Ingredients of Antivitiligo oil-The Scientific Perspective

The Anti vitiligo oil is a purely herbal product and enjoys the pride of carrying along its history of successes over the past many centuries. The traditional herbalists, who invented and prescribed this recipe through generations, were not probably aware of its mode of action. Recent scientific researches into various herbs have however discovered many of the favorable actions of its ingredients, which can help us to understand how this unique recipe might have been working.

Here are the extracts of various researches in this regard.

1. Coconut Oil

Coconut Oil has been used as the base, which testifies the wisdom of the ancient herbalist, because

  • 1. Coconut oil is one of the slowest oils to become rancid due to its high anti-oxidant activity. It can prolong the shelf life of the product very significantly.
  • 2. Coconut oil has a high content of vitamin E, which is a potent anti oxidant anti- rancidity agent.
  • 3. Scientific evidence suggests that coconut oil is very easily and completely absorbed into the human skin, leaving hardly any greasy feel.

It has been rated as an effective and convenient moisturizer.

2. Psoralea Corylifolia

It is a rich source of naturally occurring psoralen which is a time tested treatment of the white skin patches of vitiligo. It sensitizes human skin to the tanning effect of UV and Sun light. Psoralea Corylifolia has been traditionally used both orally as well as in the form of topical preparations. It is the main ingredient in most of the herbal as well as home remedies used for the white skin patches of vitiligo.

The phenolic compounds in Psoralea corylifolia have been shown in scientific studies to be effective in protecting biological material against some oxidative stresses. Oxidative stress is widely believed to be one of the likely causative factors in the initiation of white skin patches of vitiligo. Hence, the protective, anti-oxidative stress properties of Psoralea corylifolia may contribute to improvement in the hypo-pigmented white skin patches of vitiligo.

Psoralea corylifolia has also been scientifically shown to exert an immune modulatory effect in mice and since Vitiligo is an immune disorder, it may have a bearing on the course of this illness.

3. Black Cumin

Black cumin is the layman name for seeds of Nigella sativa. Seeds of Nigella sativa have also been have an immuno-modulatory as well as anti cancer effect, which is due to augmentation of T cell- and natural killer cell-mediated immune responses.

This anti tumor and immuno-modulatory action has been documented in more than one studies.

4. Barberry Root

Barberry Root or the root of Berberis vulgaris contains numerous chemicals and bioactive compounds of medical significance. It contains for example the alkaloids like berbamine, berberine, and oxyacanthine. Other compounds include tannins, chelidonic acid and resins. It is also quite rich in B-vitamin thiamine, lutein, vitamin C, beta-carotene, zeaxanthin, zinc, chromium, and cobalt. This herb has also been shown in scientific studies to possess antioxidant and cytoprotective properties. The reader may here be reminded that oxidative stress is a will accepted factor in the genesis of vitiligo.