Breakthrough skin cure claimed by Patanjali; says research published in noted UK journal

Haridwar: Patanjali Yogpeeth's co-founder, Acharya Balkrishna, claimed on Friday that Patanjali Research Foundation (PRF) has discovered a cure for white spots on the skin.
Balkrishna said, “The herbal-mineral medicine, named 'Melanogrit,' has been developed through extensive research conducted by scientists at PRF.” To support his claim, Balkrishna said a research paper has been published in a journal of the Biochemical Society, based in the United Kingdom dedicated to promoting biosciences. Melanogrit, positioned as a remedy for vitiligo and leucoderma, is said to enhance melanin production in B16F10 cells (melanocytes) responsible for melanogenesis, according to Balkrishna.
He said, “Patanjali has been treating thousands of patients with these conditions for years. Its cellular validation has now been globally acknowledged. It is a significant milestone in Patanjali's research in Ayurveda."
The research paper titled 'Melanogrit potentiates melanogenesis by escalating cellular tyrosinase activity and MITF levels via pERK inhibition' has been featured on the cover page of the journal Bioscience Reports. The researchers stated that they investigated "the therapeutic potential of the herbal-mineral formulation, Melanogrit, in neutralising white patches on the skin," and that their “findings strongly suggest that Melanogrit has the potential to stimulate melanogenesis, making it a promising candidate for clinical applications in the treatment of white skin patches that develop in vitiligo patients."
Meanwhile, Dr Ashok Sharma, former professor at Haridwar’s Rishikul and Gurukul Ayurvedic colleges, said that Patanjali's claim needs to be properly examined, adding that nothing conclusive can be said without concrete data. He said, “If vitiligo is chronic and has affected deep tissues, its treatment is rather difficult.”