Babchi is an important plant in the Indian Ayurveda and Siddha systems of medicine, and also Chinese medicine. The seeds of this plant contain a variety of coumarins including psoralen. The seeds have a variety of traditional medicinal uses. The seed and its essential oil are used as an anthelmintic and in the treatment of leucoderma and epilepsy.

Cosmetic use

Babchi as an extract is used in anti-aging formulas because of its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. It shows promise as a skin care ingredient particularly as an acne fighter and due to its antioxidant and skin-whitening properties.

P. corylifolia extract contains a number of chemical compounds including flavonoids (neobavaisoflavone, isobavachalcone, bavachalcone, bavachinin, bavachin, corylin, corylifol, corylifolin and 6-prenylnaringenin), coumarins (psoralidin, psoralen, isopsoralen and angelicin) and meroterpenes (bakuchiol and 3-hydroxybakuchiol).

Symphytum officinale L (Boraginaceae)

Commonly called comfrey, it is a perennial herb with a black, turnip-like root and large, hairy broad leaves that bears small bell-shaped flowers of various colours. It is used in organic gardening as a fertilizer. One of the most common uses of comfrey extract is in skin treatment. The plant contains allantoin, a nitrogenous crystalline substance that is a cell proliferant, which is thought to stimulate cell growth and repair while simultaneously depressing inflammation. Comfrey is restricted to topical use and should never be ingested, as it is toxic and carcinogenic due to the presence of pyrrolizidine alkaloids.

Cosmetic use

Topical application of comfrey due to its anti-inflammatory properties is recommended only for short-term use if the amount of pyrrolizidine alkaloids is less than 100 micrograms per application. The allantoin in the plant is thought to help replace and repair cells in the body through its proliferant properties. As a cosmetic and bath herb, with continuous use, it regenerates aging skin.

Mucilage, steroidal saponins, tannins, pyrrolizidine alkaloids, inulin, vitamin B12 and proteins are the other constituents present.