Melanin and Its Role in Hyper-Pigmentation – Current Knowledge and Future Trends in Research

Abstract

The use of plants as medicines is dated back to early man (Phillipson, 2001). Humans relied on nature for their basic needs such as food, shelter, clothing, fertilizers, flavours, fragrances and last but not least medicines. Plants have formed the sophisticated traditional medicine systems that have been in existence for thousands of years (Anon, 1998, Yelisida, 2005; Cunningham, 1993). Traditional medicine refers to the health practices, approaches, knowledge and beliefs incorporating plants, animals and mineral based medicines, spiritual therapies, manual techniques and exercises, applied singularly or in-combination to treat, diagnose and prevent illnesses or maintain well-being of individuals. Medicine, in several developing countries, using local traditions and beliefs, is still the mainstay health care till to date. The practice of traditional medicine is widespread in China, India, Japan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and South Africa etc (Hoareau and Dasilva, 1999; Coetzee et al, 1999; Diederichs, 2002, Nair, 2005). In China 40% of the total medicinal consumption is attributed to traditional tribal medicines. In Japan, herbal medicine preparations are more in demand than mainstream pharmaceutical products (Hoareau and Dasilva, 1999). Africa is a rich source of medicinal plants (Hoareau and Dasilva, 1999). They are an integral part of African culture, which is the oldest and most diverse in the world. Plants have been used in African medicine to treat fever, asthma, constipation, hypertension, skin diseases etc (Medical news press). About 80% of the black population uses traditional medicine as the primary healthcare system (Bussman and Sharon, 2006, Van wyk et al 1997).