A PHARMACOLOGICAL AND TOXICOLOGICAL REVIEW OF LAWSONIA INERMIS

Herbal medicines are in great demand in the developed as well as developing countries for primary healthcare because of their wide biological and medicinal activities, higher safety margins and lesser costs. Lawsonia inermis L. is commonly known as Henna or Mhendi and abundantly available in tropical and subtropical areas. Henna belongs to lythraceae, also known as the loosestrife family. Ancient history of India describes its diverse uses and also plays appreciable role in Ayurvedic or natural herbal medicines. Henna has been used cosmetically and medicinally for over 9,000 years. Currently, there is a renewed interest in henna due the wide range of its pharmacological activities, safety and availability. The present attempt is to review and compile updated information on various aspects of Lawsonia inermis (Linn), a plant used all over the world. It gives a complete view of its pharmacological actions such as analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, antiarthritic, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antimalarial, antidiabetic, abortifacient, hepatoprotective, antioxidant, anticancer, antifertility, antiulcer, diuretic, wound healing, protein glycation inhibitory, enzyme inhibitory, antitrypanosomal, anticoagulant, antisickling, nematicidal, molluscicidal, immunomodulatory, nootropic and tuberculostatic actions along with toxicological studies.