ROLE OF SHIRISHA (ALBIZIA LEBBECK) AGADA IN DADRU (TINEA): A CLINICAL STUDY

Background: Dāḍru, classified under Kushta in Ayurvedic classics, presents as circular, scaly, erythematous lesions with intense itching and spreading margins, closely resembling dermatophytosis (tinea corporis) in modern medicine. Conventional antifungal therapies, while effective, often face limitations such as drug resistance, relapse, long treatment durations, and adverse effects. Śirīṣa (Albizia lebbeck), a medicinal plant frequently mentioned in Ayurvedic texts, has been attributed with krimighna (antimicrobial), kushtaghna (anti-dermatologic), and raktashodhaka (blood- purifying) properties. Pharmacological investigations have demonstrated antimicrobial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory activities of Albizia species, suggesting potential benefit in dermatophytoses. Objective: To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of orally administered Śirīṣa Agada in patients with Dāḍru over 30 days. Methods: Open-label, single-arm clinical study of 30 patients (age 18–60) with clinically confirmed Daḍru. Intervention: standardized Shirisha Agada oral granules, 2 g twice daily after food for 30 days (formulation prepared per institutional SOP). Primary outcomes: Clinical Severity Score (CSS, 0–12). Assessments at Day 0, Day 15, Day 30. Paired t-test used for continuous outcomes; p < 0.05 considered significant. Results (example dataset): Mean CSS decreased from 8.20 ± 1.40 at baseline to 2.10 ± 1.30 at Day 30 (mean difference 6.10; SD of paired differences 1.60; n = 30). Paired t-test: t = 20.88, p < 0.0001. KOH negativity at Day 30: 18/30 (60.0%). Patient Assessment: 20/30 (66.7%) reported marked or complete improvement. Mild adverse events in 3 patients (10%): transient nausea (n = 2) and mild dyspepsia (n = 1); no serious adverse events or clinically relevant lab abnormalities. Conclusion: In this single-arm cohort, Śirīṣa Agada produced statistically and clinically significant improvement in signs/symptoms of Dāḍru with acceptable tolerability. Randomized controlled trials with larger samples and longer follow-up are recommended.