Anusha et.

al Indian Journal of Research in Pharmacy and Biotechnology ISSN: 2321-5674(Print) ISSN: 2320 – 3471(Online)

Formulation and evaluation of herbal anti-dandruff shampoo

Anusha Potluri*, Harish. G, B. Pragathi Kumar, Dr. Durraivel
Nimra College of Pharmacy, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, India
*Corresponding author: Email:[email protected]
ABSTRACT
Dandruff is a common disorder affecting the scalp condition caused by yeast Pityrosporum.
Dandruff cannot be completely eliminated but can only be managed and effectively controlled. A
shampoo is a preparation containing surfactant (i.e. surface active material) in a suitable form – liquid,
solid or powder – which when used under the specified conditions will remove surface grease, dirt, and
skin debris from the hair shaft and scalp without adversely affecting the user. Various anti-fungal agents
are employed in hair care preparations for the treatment dandruff. These products show many side effects
like loss of hair, increased scaling, itching, irritation, nausea, and headache. Hence an attempt was made
to formulate herbal anti-dandruff shampoo which is effective in terms of safety and treating the dandruff
condition better than the chemical based anti-dandruff shampoo. Herbal anti-dandruff shampoos were
formulated using herbal based ingredients like Lemon Grass Oil, Neem oil, Henna, Aloe Vera gel and
other ingredients for preparing base shampoo. The formulated shampoos were subjected to evaluation
parameters like visual inspection, pH, viscosity, Percentage of solids contents, Dirt dispersion, Surface
tension, Foaming ability and foam stability, anti-fungal activity test using Pityrosporum Ovale strain.
Formulation (F8) exhibited good antifungal activity i.e., maximum zone of inhibition. Hence it was
subjected to safety studies on animals, such as eye irritation test and skin sensitivity test. The (F8)
exhibited good safety without any irritation and sensitivity. Stability studies for a period of three months
were conducted for F8 formulation and showed negligible changes in their physicochemical properties.
Key words: Dandruff, herbal anti-dandruff shampoo, Pityrosporum ovale.
INTRODUCTION chloride), different chemical compounds are used
Dandruff represents one of the most common depending on the desired result of the shampoo. Many
dermatological skin conditions and is a chronic, non shampoos also contain vitamins and moisturizing
inflammatory condition of the scalp that is alcohols to prevent too much of the hair and scalp's
characterized by excessive scaling of scalp tissue. natural oils from being stripped away during
Dandruff is apparently caused by a fungus called cleansing. Herbal Cosmetics, here in after referred as
Malassezia restricta and M. globosa. Malassezia Products, and are formulated, using various
formerly called Pityrosporum is a yeast causing permissible cosmetic ingredients to form the base in
infection of skin and scalp. It often causes itching. which one or more herbal ingredients are used to
Warm and humid atmosphere, overcrowding and poor provide defined cosmetic benefits only, shall be called
personal hygiene are ideally suited for the growth of as “Herbal Cosmetics”. Herbal drugs or their
Malassezia. Dandruff affects 5% of the population formulations are viable alternative to synthetic drugs.
and mostly occurs after puberty, between 20-30 years During the past few decades, there has been a
and dandruff affects males more than females. dramatic increase in the use of natural products in
Dandruff occurs exclusively on skin in areas with high cosmetics. Now-a-days, many herbal shampoos are
levels of sebum. Symptoms of dandruff mainly available in the market which contains herbal
include itching, flakes; redness of scalp. Dandruff can ingredients such as plant extracts and essential oils.
be treated in two ways, by using herbal based anti- There are large number of plants which are reported to
dandruff shampoo and by using chemical based anti- have beneficial effects on hair and are commonly used
dandruff shampoo. A shampoo is a preparation in shampoos.many herbas such as Hibiscus rosa-
containing surfactant (i.e. surface active material) in a sinensis, Lawsonia inermis, Citrus aurantifolia,
suitable form – liquid, solid or powder – which when Phyllanthus emblica, Ocimum sanctum, Zingiber
used under the specified conditions will remove officinalis, Azadirecta indica, aloe vera have been
surface grease, dirt, and skin debris from the hair shaft used as an anti dandruff agents in many shampoo
and scalp without adversely affecting the user. Most formulations.
shampoos contain water, a detergent (cleaning agent), MATERIALS AND METHODS
surfactant (lather making agent), salt, fragrance Lemon Grass Oil, Neem Oil, Aloe Vera Gel,
(natural and artificial), preservative and food Henna was obtained as a gift samples from cavin care
coloring. With the exception of water and salt (sodium pvt lmtd, Chennai, sodium lauryl sulfate was obtained

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Anusha et.al Indian Journal of Research in Pharmacy and Biotechnology ISSN: 2321-5674(Print) ISSN: 2320 – 3471(Online)

from Cipla Ltd., Daund, glycerine was procured form inoculum. The inoculum obtained was serially diluted
Signet, Mumbai and EDTA was obtained from Syned to 10-6 and 10-7 dilutions and 100μl of inoculum was
Labs Limited, Medak, AP. inoculated onto the PDA plate which was spread using
Preparation of anti-dandruff shampoo: Shampoo an L-Shaped spreader. The Petri plates were then
was formulated using simple mixing process. Herbal sealed using a parafilm and incubated at 30 degree
anti-dandruff shampoo was formulated by adding the Celsius for 48 hours to get plates with uniform growth
required amounts of herbal ingredients as given in the of fungus. Then different dilutions of shampoo as
formulation table no 1 prepared and poured into petriplates and incubated,
Evaluation of prepared herbal shampoo: The the growth of fungus were checked at regular
prepared herbal shampoo formulation should be intervals. Disk diffusion method was used to check the
evaluated for its appearance, pH, viscosity, foaming zone of inhibition for all the dilutions of shampoo.
ability, surface tension, percentage solid content, Safety evaluation: Safety is an important aspect of a
detergency ability, rheology, dirt dispersion and anti- shampoo; it should be tested by conducting animal
fungal activity against pityrosporum ovale. studies like eye irritation test and skin sensitization
Antifungal activity against Pityrosporum ovale: The test, using albino rabbits.
herbal anti-dandruff shampoo formulations (F5-F8) Stability studies: Stability studies were carried out by
were subjected to anti-fungal activity by adopting placing glass tubes and in humidity chamber at
disc-diffusion method. Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) 45°Cand 75% relative humidity. And their
medium was used for growing fungus. PDA was appearance, physical stability were inspected for a
prepared with addition of Butter. Dandruff was period of 3 months at interval of one month.
dissolved in Potato dextrose broth for its further use as
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Table.1.Formulation of herbal anti-dandruff shampoo
Ingredients F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 F6 F7 F8
Neem oil(ml) 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0
Lemon Grass Oil (ml) 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0
Aloe Vera gel(ml) 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0
Henna oil(ml) 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0
Sodium lauryl 6 3.0 1.5 0.75 15 10 5 -
sulfate(gm)
Carbopol(gm) 2.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 - - - -
Glycerin(ml) - - - - 1 1 1 1
Guar gum(gm) 1.2 0.60 0.30 0.15 - - - -
Methyl paraben(gm) 0.180 0.180 0.180 0.180 - - - -
Propyl paraben(gm) 0.120 0.120 0.120 0.120 - - - -
EDTA(gm) - - - - 0.15 0.15 0.15 0.15
Sodium hydroxide To adjust To adjust To adjust To adjust To adjust To adjust To adjust To adjust
pH pH pH pH pH pH pH pH
Water q.s q.s q.s q.s q.s q.s q.s q.s
Perfume q.s q.s q.s q.s q.s q.s q.s q.s
Total 100ml 100ml 100ml 100ml 100ml 100ml 100ml 100ml

Table 2: Evaluation of Formulations for physical appearance, pH and %Solids

Formulation Appearance pH %solids Surface tension Cleansing action Dirt dispersion
(dy/cm) (%)
F5 Off white, good 4.9+0.02 21.10+0.01 30.12+0.02 22.12+0.05 Moderate
foaming
F6 Off white, good 5.1+0.07 23.01+0.05 31.25+0.01 25.02+0.01 Light
foaming
F7 Off white, good 5.2+0.02 26.02+0.02 33.17+0.01 27.52+0.03 Light
foaming
F8 Off white, good 5.5+0.01 28.05+0.04 34.20+0.01 32.06+0.04 None
foaming

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Anusha et.al Indian Journal of Research in Pharmacy and Biotechnology ISSN: 2321-5674(Print) ISSN: 2320 – 3471(Online)

Table.3.Evaluation of formulations for viscosity

RPM Viscosity(cp
F5 F6 F7 F8
0.5 82150.00 60765.00 51516.67 17533.33
1.0 54150.00 42666.66 40450.00 14916.67
2.5 50916.67 33350.00 28851.66 11478.33
5 25425.00 14645.33 13651.66 9158.33
10 15775.00 8541.00 8041.66 7766.66

Table.4.Evaluation of Foam Stability of Herbal Shampoo formulations

Time in min Foam volume(ml)
F5 F6 F7 F8
1min 176 170 168 156
2min 173 168 166 152
3min 170 167 165 148
4min 169 166 164 142
5min 168 165 163 136

Table.5.Evaluation of Antifungal activity of Herbal Shampoos formulations

Zone of inhibition
Marketed product Formulation code
F5 F6 F7 F8
26.06mm 10.26mm 18.52mm 25.04mm 27.06mm

Table.6.Evaluation of Stability of Herbal Shampoo formulations

Evaluation parameter Stability
After 1month After 2 months after 3months
Appearance Off white, good foaming Off white, good foaming Off white, good foaming
pH 5.5+0.01 5.5+0.24 5.5+0.85
Viscosity(cp) 17533.33 17450.02 16477.36
% Solids 28.05+0.04 28.54+0.56 29.35+0.11
Surface tension 30.45+0.02 31.22+0.78 31.85+0.056
(dy/cm)
Dirt dispersion None None None
Foaming volume(ml) 136 134 130

200
foam volume(ml)

150
Foam volume(ml) F5
100
Foam volume(ml) F6
50
Foam volume(ml) F7
0
1min 2min 3min 4min 5min Foam volume(ml) F8
time (min)

Figure.1.Foam Stability of Herbal Shampoo Formulations (F5-F8)

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Anusha et.al Indian Journal of Research in Pharmacy and Biotechnology ISSN: 2321-5674(Print) ISSN: 2320 – 3471(Online)

Figure.2.Initial Skin Condition of Figure.3.Skin Sensitivity for F8 after Figure.4.Skin Sensitivity for F8 after
Albino Rabbit 1hr 2hrs

Figure.5. Skin sensitivity for F8 after Figure.6. Skin sensitivity for F8 after Fig no 7 Initial Eye Condition of
3hrs 4hrs Rabbit without Applying Shampoo

Figure.8.Eye Irritation after Figure.9.Eye Irritation after Figure.10.Eye Irritation after

30seconds for Formulation F5 30seconds for Formulation F6 30seconds

Figure.11. Eye Irritation after 30seconds for Formulation F8

Figure.12.Antifungal activity of marketed herbal anti- Figure.13.Antifungal activity of prepared herbal anti-
dandruff shampoo (NIZORAL) against Pityrosporum dandruff shampoo formulation F8 against Pityrosporum
ovale ovale

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Anusha et.al Indian Journal of Research in Pharmacy and Biotechnology ISSN: 2321-5674(Print) ISSN: 2320 – 3471(Online)

Total 8 formulations were made. Out of 8 the formulation F8 was found to be best for
formulations F1, F2 F3, F4 showed consistency, formulation for treating the dandruff as it exhibit
foaming and stability problems. Formulations F5, maximum zone of inhibition, and without any eye
F6, F7, F8 showed good consistency, foaming. irritation.
Hence the formulations F5, F6, F7, and F8 were
CONCLUSION
used for further study. The results of visual
inspection of formulations are listed in Table 2. The formulation of Anti-dandruff hair
All formulations had the good characteristics with shampoo provides a method for treating a scalp
respect to foaming. The pH of shampoos has been dandruff or seborrheic dermatitis. Herbal anti-
shown to be important for improving and dandruff hair shampoo containing 2ml (F8) of
enhancing the qualities of hair, minimizing herbs concentration of neem oil, lemon grass oil,
irritation to the eyes and stabilizing the ecological henna, aloe vera gel with sodium lauryl sulfate
balance of the scalp. As seen from Table 2, all the base could be used as an effective in treatment of
shampoos were acid balanced and were Dandruff on scalp. The formulated shampoos
ranged4.9-5.5, which is near to the skin pH. If the were not only safer than the chemical dandruff
shampoo has too many solids it will be hard to agents, but may also greatly reduce the hair loss
work into the hair or too hard to wash out. The during combing as well as strengthen the hair
result of percent of solids contents is tabulated in growth. The pH of the shampoos was adjusted to
table 2, and was found between 21-28%. As a 5.5, to retain the acidic mantle of scalp. However,
result, they were easy to wash out. It has been the aesthetic attributes, such as lather and clarity,
mentioned that a proper shampoo should be able of the laboratory shampoo are not comparable
to decrease the surface tension of pure water to with the marketed shampoos.
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