Published Paper Details:

Medicinal plants have been used to improve human health with little side effects. Iris ensata Thunb. Irsa (Iridaceae) East Asian native is important in Unani medicine with multiple therapeutic activities. Considered a deobstruent (Mufatteh e Sudad), expectorant (Mukhrij e Balgham), phlegm expelling agent (Mushil e Balgham) and antiseptic (D?fi' e Ta'affun), it is extremely popular when it comes to treating respiratory and inflammatory diseases. Unani formulations contain the rhizomes of Irsa to relieve nasal congestion, rhinitis, sore throat, respiratory discomfort, and ulcerative lesions. Phytochemical research has identified several active compounds, such as isoflavones, tannins, triterpenoids, phenolic acids, and essential oils, which have proven pharmacological properties: anti inflammatory, antimicrobial, hepatoprotective, bronchodilatory, and antiallergic. These results confirm synergy between the Unani traditional applications and the emerging scientific evidence. However, the existing evidence is still insufficient because there are several clinical trials and no standardized formulation yet. This review addresses the botanical characteristics, traditional applications, chemical profile, and pharmacological potential of Irsa and its applicability in ancient and modern environments. Despite the encouraging research findings about the potential therapeutic potential, it is important that its safety, effectiveness, and mechanism of action are validated through rigorous pharmacological tests and clinical trials. A combination of Unani wisdom and scientific validation may open the door to evidence based herbal medicine prepared using Iris ensata.