Shibb-E-Yamani (Alum) a Unique Drug and Its Utilization in Unani Medicine: A Physicochemical and Pharmacological Review

Abstract

Phitkari (Alum) is a very renowned and useful drug in Unani and Ayurvedic system of medicine. It is a drug of mineral origin, found in the form of crystals resembling to salt. It is called Zaj-e-Abyaz in Arabic and Shibb-e-Yamani in Persian, and Alum in English. It is a very ancient medicine; first time Alum was prepared in Bilade Mashriqiya (Asian countries). The earliest surviving discussions of Phitkari in the literature of antiquity are the works of the Greek physician Dioscorides. Arab physicians especially Razi discussed it in details. Razi included Alum among the types of vitriol, probably due to the similarities in their astringent qualities and mode of occurrence in his Book of Secrets (Kitab al-asrar). It is used as antiseptic, antipyretic, antispasmodic, hemostyptic. It is also used in many compound formulations in various dosage forms. In this paper, Alum is reviewed for its pharmacological and physicochemical properties due to its importance and beneficent medical indications.

Inorganic and organic chemical constituents of trona, alum and palm ash: Potential alternatives to conventional antifungal drugs?

“…These must have contributed to the antimicrobial efficacy of alum. The findings agreed with Ali et al (2017), who pointed out that the potency of alum as an antimicrobial agent had been visibly demonstrated over the years through myriads of its beneficial activities and relevance in a broad spectrum of human research and development. 2 include sulphur (2.14 %), chlorine (5.8 %), and potassium (1.7 %) while the heavy metals include lead (0 %), arsenic and nickel (<0.003 %).…”

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAPs) of Farmers on Foot and Mouth Disease in Cattle in Baghlan Province, Afghanistan: A Descriptive Study

“…This is a traditional treatment, also called Unani Medication (Greek Medication), and is widely used in Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India [37]. The use of alum for treating lesions in the mouth of sick animals has also been reported by others [37,38] as it cauterises the vesicles and erosions present. Another traditional treatment commonly used by the surveyed farmers and animal traders was to stand the infected animal in a stream or river to clean foot lesions and to decrease the pain associated with these lesions.…”

A Comparison Between Different Susceptibility Test Methods to Evaluate the Antibacterial Activity of Olibanum and Alum Against the "Red Complex" Periodontal Pathogens

“…In the context of comparing the results of alum with other studies, the activities of 2.5 mg/ml to reduce the CFU of S. aureus, S. epidermidis, E. coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, and S. mutans were reported with significant differences compared with the standard cefotaxime [31]. Another report of 15 mg/ml of alum showed a significant inhibition compared to ofloxacin against Proteus sp., E. coli, B. subtilis and Klebsiella sp.…”