280REVIEW ON BORAGE OFFICINALIS: A WONDER HERBThe plant Borage (Borago officinalis L.) family-Boraginaceae, also known as "starflower" bee bread, is a coarse, hairy, erect, annual herb, 30-70 cm high and native to Mediterranean region, North Africa and cultivated in Iran, Turkey, Spain, Asia Minor and India as an ornamental and to repel insects. It is mainly marketed in pharmaceutical sector in health foods and nutritional supplements. It has more than 20% gamma linolenic acid (GLA) in the seed oil. Traditionally borage is used to treat catarrh, rheumatism, some skin diseases, and beneficial effect on the brain, being used to dispel melancholy and to induce euphorbia. The leaves and flowers are galactogogue, diuretic, diaphoretic, expectorant, laxative, nervine and antidepressive. The oleic and palmitic acid of borage may also confer a hypocholesterolemic effect. In Unani system of medicine the plant is very popular as Gaozaban and used in various khamiras for cardioprotection.snbasar136@gmail.comReview482013Borage,Gaozaban,Gamma linolenic acid,Unani,CardioprotectionSadiya Noorul Basar,Seema Rani,Syeda Anjum Farah,Roohi ZamanPG Scholar, Dept. of Ilmul Saidla, National Institute of Unani Medicine, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.,PG Scholar, Dept. of Ilmul Saidla, National Institute of Unani Medicine, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.,PG Scholar, Dept. of Ilmul Saidla, National Institute of Unani Medicine, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.,Reader and HOD, Dept. of Ilmul Saidla, National Institute of Unani Medicine, Bangalore, Karnataka, India