Skin hyperpigmentation and its treatment with herbs: an alternative method

Background With an increasing number of patients, those who are facing a lot of skin-related complaints, often referred to as skin of pigmentation patients, are on the rise. Among all the most common complaints in patients with skin of color is hyperpigmentation. So, there is need of herbal formulation for treatment of hyperpigmentation. Main body This review article addresses the different types of hyperpigmentation, causes, and its treatment with herbs for the management of the skin hyperpigmentation. As uneven pigmentation of skin or hyperpigmentation is a common skin condition, which occurs when the skin produces more melanin. This can make spots or patches of skin appear darker than surrounding areas. Some forms of hyperpigmentation with post-inflammatory, melasma, and sun spots are more likely to affect areas of face, arms, and legs due to sun exposure and injury. Although the availability of multiple treatments for the condition which leads to some adverse effects, hyperpigmentation continues to present skin care management challenges for dermatologists. Conclusion Some plants and phytoconstituents, e.g., Azadirachta indica, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Panax ginseng and genistein, ellagic acids, quercetin, are very useful in herbal cosmetic as anti-hyperpigmentry agents in cosmetic industries. Some of flavonoids and triterpenoids present in plants also show their effect as antioxidant and skin whitening agents. It is expected that this review will compile and improve the existing knowledge on the potential utilization of herbs for the treatment of skin hyperpigmentation.

Influence of Solar Minimum on Cosmic Ray Flux, Mutations in viruses and Pandemics like COVID-19

This interdisciplinary study takes into account the effect of the cosmic ray flux on mutations in viruses that result in virulent forms that lead to the occurrence of pandemics. Solar minimum, the reduction in the activity of the Sun which occurs cyclically every 11 years and deep solar minimum that occurs once in a century or so, results in increased cosmic ray flux to the Earth, which in turn generate mutations in viruses harboured in bats and other nocturnal animals. Almost all the previous pandemics occurred during solar minimum years when the Sun spots were lowest or absent and when the solar activity was at the lowest.This study suggests that the present Covid 19 pandemic is triggered by the mutated viromes in bats from latitudes above 30 degrees N. The increase in cosmic ray flux during the solar minimum of solar cycle 24 has contributed to this. It is improbable that SARS-CoV-2 emerged through laboratory manipulation of a related SARS-CoV-like coronavirus. This study indicates that SARS CoV 2 emerged as a result of biological and astrophysical processes.