Khatmī (Althea officinalis L. and Althea rosea): Medicinal importance in the perspective of Unani medicine and pharmacological studies

Althea officinalis L. is an important Unani Medicinal plant belonging to the family Malvaceae. The herb is commonly known as Khatmī and Marsh-mallow. All parts of the plant such as seeds, leaves, root and flowers are mainly used as medicine in Unani Medicine. It is used for many pharmacological actions like diuretic, lithotriptic, deobstruent, anti-inflammatory, emmenagogue which makes it useful in treatment of kidney stone jaundice, menstrual disorder, hepatitis, headache etc. Many scientific studies are done on the pharmacological actions of this herb. In this chapter both modern and Unani perspective of pharmacological properties of Althea officinalis L. along with its Phytochemistry and pharmacological studies are included. Keywords: Althea officinalis L.; Khatmī; Malvaceae