Plumbago zeylanica, commonly known as Ceylon leadwort, is a plant used in traditional medicine systems such as Ayurveda and folk medicine across Asia and Africa. Its roots and extracts have been used for a variety of skin conditions, including fungal infections. There are references in ethnobotanical literature and Ayurvedic texts to the use of Plumbago zeylanica for treating skin diseases and infections, which may encompass conditions similar to Athlete’s Foot (tinea pedis), a fungal infection of the feet. The plant is believed to have broad antimicrobial and antifungal properties according to traditional practices.

However, direct scientific research specifically validating the effectiveness of Plumbago zeylanica for Athlete’s Foot is very limited or absent. While some in vitro studies suggest general antifungal activity of extracts from this plant, these studies do not specifically address the fungi (e.g., Trichophyton species) most commonly responsible for Athlete’s Foot, nor do they provide clinical evidence of efficacy in humans. Thus, its use for Athlete’s Foot is primarily justified by traditional and historical precedent, with only weak and indirect scientific support.