title: Efficacy of Myrtus communis L. and Descurainia sophia L. Versus Salicylic Acid for Wart Treatment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Wart is a skin disease with circular appendages, which is called "suloul" in Iranian traditional medicine (ITM). According to ITM literature, warts have different types and causes. The most important mechanism is excretion of materials (Khelt) from body to skin and mucus; its causative material is often phlegm, black bile or a combination of them. To treat warts, it is necessary to consider the patient's life style, modify his dietary intake and moisturize his temperament.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to compare Myrtus communis L. and Descurainia sophia L. as a method of ITM, versus salicylic acid in treatment of wart.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, conducted in Yazd, Iran, 100 patients were selected and randomly divided into four groups. Group 1) salicylic acid, group 2) salicylic acid and D. sophia L. group 3) M. communis L. group 4) M. communis L. and D. sophia L. Numbers, sizes of lesions and symptoms, on days 0, 20, 40 and 90 were examined and analyzed. The relapse rate was investigated three months after. Changes of sizes and numbers of warts in each period of time in each group, compared to baseline, were assessed by Wilcoxon Signed Rank test. To compare these changes between the groups, Kruskal Wallis test was used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this study 100 patients participated, 69% of which were female. Compared to baseline, mean ± SD of changes for the number of warts in day 40 were 1.12 ± 4.2, 0.96 ± 2.5, 1.32 ± 5.1 and 0.04 ± 0.2 respectively in the four groups (P = 0.02). Mean ± SD of changes for the number of warts in day 90 were 1.84 ± 4.5, 1.56 ± 2.8, 1.24 ± 5.1 and 0.04 ± 0.6 respectively in the four groups (P = 0.03). In addition mean ± SD of changes for the size of warts in day 40 were 0.96 ± 1.8, 1.03 ± 2.4, 2.47 ± 3.0 and 0.45 ± 1.7 respectively in the four groups (P < 0.001). Mean ± SD of changes for the size of warts in day 90 were 1.24 ± 2.1, 1.3 ± 2.3, 2.45 ± 3.1 and 0.45 ± 1.7 respectively in the four groups (P < 0.001). Relapse was not seen in any groups after three months. The frequency of side effects was similar after three months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  M. communis L. can be used as a topical treatment for warts. It not only shows more rapid response than salicylic acid, but also has fewer side effects. It seems that D. sophia L. can modify the digestion process and patients can excrete large amounts of the substance that causes warts. Therefore, it is better to use it more than 40 days. According to our investigation, in ITM, considering the cause and mechanism of disease generation and the causing materials of the disease, different treatments should be applied for each patient. Although applying an appropriate treatment is necessary, a unique treatment for all the patients cannot be available.
authors.affiliation: Research Deputy of Traditional Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Elham
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ghadami Yazdi
authors.affiliation: Research Deputy of Traditional Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Mohamad Bagher
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Minaei
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Islamic and Complementary Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Fataneh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hashem Dabaghian
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Dermatology, Shahid Sadughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Mohamad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ebrahim Zadeh Ardakani
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Pharmacy, Faculty of Traditional Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Ali Mohammad
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ranjbar
authors.affiliation: Payame Noor University, Yazd, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Mohamad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rastegari
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology,Shahid Sadughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ghadami Yazdi
keywords: Classical Medicine; Descurainia sophia L.; Iranian Traditional Medicine; Myrtus communis L.; Salicylic Acid; Suloul; Wart