Ethno-dermatological relevance of medicinal plants from the Indian Himalayan region and its implications on cosmeceuticals

Since prehistorical times, the traditional knowledge of medicinal plants has been prevalent in India. The Indian Himalayas are one of the mega-biodiversity regions with vast reserves of medicinal plants. In dermatology, advanced healthcare solutions are not ordinarily available in rural areas; therefore, traditional medicines are used in treatment. The present review aims to emphasize and enlist the details of medicinal plants with curative action against skin disease in the Indian Himalayan region and to draw the attention of pharmacologists, botanists, and phytochemists to conduct scientific research on important ethno-dermatological medicinal plants. The review aimed to analyze the data of 112 plants from 56 families obtained from various online databases and servers. Lamiaceae and Asteraceae represent the highest number of plants against skin disorders. Leaves (44%) were the most commonly used plant part and the mode of administration of plant extract was majorly external and very few orally. The herbal formulations for skin by different cosmetic industries were studied individually to find out their key bioactive ingredients and were further listed in a table. In herbal cosmetics, Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. extract, sandalwood oil, and Aloe vera (L.) Burm. f leaf pulp are used in most herbal products because of their skin rejuvenating properties. The Indian Himalayas are the treasure box of medicinal plants but, because of increased environmental degradation, the number of plant species is declining. This review on ethno-dermatological knowledge of medicinal plants can escalate the development of drugs and new therapeutic potentials for curing skin diseases.