Medicinal and aromatic plants for the control of lice and scabies following the Turkish earthquake

Turkey encountered the most major earthquake called the disaster of the century on February 6, 2023. After the earthquake, diverse outbreaks caused by a lack of hygiene including outbreaks of scabies and lice appeared. In this study, some medicinal and aromatic plants that can be used as an alternative to synthetic chemicals such as permethrin and benzyl benzoate, have been compiled due to both fewer side effects and reduced cost. These are all used for treatment in these scabies and lice outbreaks.

The aims of this study are to determine whether medicinal and aromatic plants will be used for the new formulation of scabies and lice outbreaks after an earthquake, to identify herbs and active ingredients with ethnic uses and biological effects, and to review some herbal formulations on the market. In this review, approximately 50 medicinal and aromatic plants (Pimpinella anisum, Clitoria ternatea, etc.) including 30 families (Apiaceae, Fabaceae, and Solanaceae, etc.) were examined besides triterpenoids, flavonoids and diallylthiosulfinates have been used against these outbreaks.

Results have been reported as follows; (1) The scarcity of clinical studies against scabies and lice (2) The fact that the side effects of the herbs determined in the literature are few and can be eliminated (3) The low cost of herbal formulations compared to chemicals.

 

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Publication History

Article published online:
16 November 2023