INTRODUCTION:

Hair plays a very important role in the personality of humans and for their cure by using lots of cosmetic products¹. Herbal formulations always have activity and comparatively lesser or no side effects with synthetic. Hair formulation of Embica officinalis (Fruits), Bacopa monnieri (Leaves), Trigonella foenum graecum (Seeds), Murraya koenigii (Leaf), Hibiscus rosasinensis (Flowers) in different concentrations in the form of herbal oil were studied for their hair growth activity, refractive index, acid value, saponification value^2.

Hair plays a vital role in human body and it is considered to be protective appendages on the body and accessory structure of the integument along with sebaceous glands, sweat glands and nails^3.

The main problems associated with hair such as pigmentation problems (Fading), dandruff and failing of hair (Shedding). Each hair grows in three cyclic phases such as anagen (growth), catagen (involution) and telogen (rest)^4. The anagen phase can be as short as 2-6 years. In the catagen phase, the growth activity increases and hair moves to the next phase, catagen phase is between 2-3 weeks. The telogen phase is a state at which the hairs move into resting state as 2-3 months. In general, 50 to 100 hairs are known to be should everyday and an increase of more than 100 constitutes a state of hair loss or alopecia.

Amla is rich source of vitamin C and contains appreciable amount of pectin rich in mineral matters like phosphorous, iron, calcium]. Bacopa monnieri acts on brain so that it is called as nervine tonic^5. Hibiscus consists of calcium, phosphorus, iron, vitamin B1, riboflavin, niacin and vitamin C, used to stimulate thicker hair growth and prevents premature graying of hair. Bramhi contains alkaloids which enhance protein kinase activity. Methi contains high protein fooder which supply required protein nutrition to hair. Trigonella foenumgraecum is used as high protein fodder and for its cleansing an d softening activity and it also promores scalp health and prevents hair falling^6. Leaves of Murraya koenigii is used for its antiseptic properties. Cocosnucifera is used to promote the growth of hair.

MATERIALS:

Amla:

Amla (Emblica officinalis, Family- Euphorbiaceae) is deciduous tree widely found in India at the height of 350 m. It is often cultivated at commercial level in Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Maharashtra Amla contains 5-6% of tannins such as gallic acid, ellagic acid and phyllembelin. It is commercialized in the form of shampoos and hair oil^7. Mainly its oil and aqueous extract is used in the hair care formulations.

Chemical constituents:

Emblica officinalis is very high in vitamin C, pectin, polyphenol compounds, gallic acid, ellagicacid, corilagin, phyllantidine and phyllantine (both alkaloids)^8. Its ascorbic acid content ranges for 1000mg to 1700mg per 100grams also found are hydrolysable tannins punigluconin, pedunculagin and Emblicanin A and Emblicanin B.

Uses:

Emblica exhibits strong antioxidant activity. It is one of the most important plants in the traditional Ayurvedic medical system as well as in other traditional health systems for immunomodulatory, antiulcer, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective and anticancer actions. However, there is very limited clinical evidence to support the use of emblica for any indication⁹.

Hibiscus:

Synnonym: Jaswand, Cotton Rose, Red Tea.

Biological source: It is a dried flower of Hibiscus Rosasinensis

Family: Malvaceae

Chemical Constituents:

The phytochemical analysis showed that Hibiscus rosa-sinensis contained tannins, anthraquinones, quinines, phenols, flavanoides, alkaloids, terpenoids, saponins, cardiac glycosides, protein, free amino acids, Carbohydrates, reducing sugars, mucilage, essential oils and steroids^10.

Uses:

Stop hair loss.

Make your hair look healthy and lustrous.

Prevent premature graying.

Thicken hair and add volume.

Fenugreek:

Plant description

Fenugreek, Trigonellafoenum- graecum is an herbaceous annual plant in the family Fabaceaegrown for its leaves and seeds which are used as a. herb or spice the fenugreek plant may have a single stem or may be branched at the stem base. The leaves of the plant are small and trifoliate with oval leaflets which are green to purple in color^11.

Chemical constituents:

Trigogenin, neotrigogenin, diosgenin, yamogenin, 4-hydroxyisoleucine, vitexin, isovitexin, saponaretin, homoorientin, vicenin-1, vicenin-2 and two flavonoid glycosides quercetin and luteolin and steroidal saponins have been isolated from seeds^12.

Uses:

Fenugreek has been used for controlling high blood sugar in people with diabetes. Some supplement products have been found to contain possibly harmful impurities/additives.

Neem:

Neem (Azadirachta indica, Family- Melliaceae) is indigenous to all plains in Indian subcontinent^13. it also grows widely in the sub-Himalayan track at altitude of 700–10,000m above sea level. Neem leaves contain flavonoids, steroids, terpenoids, sterols and nimbolide. Neem seed and seed oil contain different bitter limonoids including nimbin, nimbibin, salanin etc. many commercial shampoos contain neem oil for the control of ticks, fleas and lice. In European countries neem oil also used in different herbal hair oil, hair tonic^14.

Plant Description:

Height: 15–20m (about 50–65 feet Flowers: Very sweet scented, especially at night, appear in March-May; white and fragrant; arranged auxiliary, normally in more-or-less drooping panicles which are up to 25cm (10in.) long; inflorescences branch up to the third degree, bear from 150 to 250 flowers; individual flower is 5–6mm long and 8–11mm wide; protandrous, bisexual flowers and male flowers exist on the same individual^15. Fruit: Ripes in July and August, evergreen, the old foliage persisting till after the young leaves have expanded; branches wide spread.

Leaves: The opposite, pinnate leaves are 20–40cm (8 to 16 in.) long, with 20 to 31 medium to dark green leaflets about 3–8cm (1 to 3 in.) long; terminal leaflet is often missing; petioles short.

Chemical constituents:

Main chemical components are nimbin, nimbinene, Azadirachtin, azadirachtol, azadirachnol, Desacetynimbinene, nimbandiol, nimbolide, Quercetin, beta-sitosterol, n-hexacosanol, nimbio

Uses:

Neem leaves are dried and burnt in the tropical Regions to keep away mosquitoes. These flowers are also used in many Indian festivals like Ugadi. Neem products are believed by siddha and Ayurvedic Practitioners to be antihelmentic, antifungal, antidiabetic, antibacterial, antiviral, contraceptive and Sedative^16. Neem oil is also used for healthy hair, to improve liver function, detoxify the blood and balance blood sugar levels. Neem leaves have also Used to treat skin diseases like eczema, psoriasis etc.

Coconut:

Plant description:

Cocosnucifera trees have a smooth, columnar, light Grey-brown trunk, witha mean diameter of 30-40cm at breast height, and topped with a terminal crown of Leaves^17. Tall selections may attain a height of 24-30M; dwarf selections also exist. Trunk slender and slightly swollen at the base, usually erect but may be leaning or curved. Leaves pinnate, feather shaped, 4-7m long and 1-1.5M wide at the broadest part. Leaf stalks 1-2cm in Length and thornless. Inflorescence consists of female and male auxiliaryFlowers. Flowers small, light yellow, in clusters that Emerge from canoe-shaped sheaths among the leaves^18. Male flowers small and more numerous. Female Flowers fewer and occasionally completely absent; Larger, spherical structures, about 25 mm in diameter. Fruitroughly ovoid, up to 5cm long and 3cm wide, composed of a thick, fibrous husk surrounding a somewhat spherical nut with a hard, brittle, hairy Shell. The nut is 2-2.5cm in diameter and 3-4cm Long^19. Three sunken holes of softer tissue, called ‘eyes’, are at one end of the nut. Inside the shell is a Thin, white, fleshy layer known as the ‘meat’^20. The Interior of the nut is hollow but partially filled with a Watery liquid called ‘coconut milk’. The meat is soft and jellylike when immature but becomes firm with Maturity. Coconut milk is abundant in unripe fruit but is gradually absorbed as ripening proceeds. The fruits are green at first, turning brownish as they mature; Yellow varieties go from yellow to brown.

Chemical constituents:

The chemical constituents of cocosnucifera have some biological effects such as antihelmintic, anti-Inflammatory, antinociceptive, antioxidant, Antifungal, antimicrobial and antitumor activities.

Uses:

Oil and milk derived from it are commonly used in cooking and frying. Coconut oil is also widely used in soaps and cosmetics. The husk and leaves can be used as material to make a variety of products for Furnishing and decorating. Coconuts have been used in traditional medicine around the world to treat numerous ailments, ranging from sore throat, coldstuberculosis, tumors and ulcer

Preparation of herbal hair formulation:

The herbs used in the present study for making herbal oil were dried, crushed and passed Through 80mesh stainless steel sieves and olive oil was used as base^21. The hair oil was prepared utilizing three different methodologies. First is the direct boiling method in which the crude drugs were powdered, weighed and directly boiled in olive oil with continuous stirring and heating until the drug had completely extracted in the oil base. 1, 2, 3% of drugs containing oils were prepared.

Secondly, paste method was used where fresh fruit or pulp or the desired part of the plants were converted into paste with very little amount of water and kept overnight^22. After this the Wetted drug was mixed in olive oil base and boiled with continuous stirring at a constant Temperature, until the water droplets in oil stop knocking and the drug has completely Extracted in the oil. The oil was then filtered through a muslin cloth. Three different Concentrations 4%, 5%, 6% were prepared containing 4, 5, 6g of drug per 100ml of oil.

Evaluation of herbal oil:

Physical evaluation:

In physical evaluation, parameters like specific gravity, pH, refractive index, viscosity and Acid value were determined and the formulations were subjected to biological evaluation.

Biological evaluation:

Primary skin irritation test:

The prepared formulations were assessed for primary skin irritation test. Six healthy rats were selected for the study. Each rat was caged individually food and water given during the test Period 24hrs prior to the test.

The hair from the back of each rat of 1cm 2Was shaved on the Side of the spine to expose sufficiently large test areas, which could accommodate three testSites were cleaned with surgical sprit^23. Measured quantity (1ml) (5% w/w) of the formulations OD1, OD2 and OD3 were applied over the respective test sites on one side of the spine and Observed for erythema and edema for 48hrs after application

Hair growth initiation test:

Quantitative model by Uno was used with slight modification for the study of hair growth initiation²³. The rabbits were divided in 4 groups of 1 rabbit each and 2cm 2 Areas were shaved to remove hairs. Eleven patches were developed on each rabbit. Rabbit of group A Was treated with amla oil of 1-concentration on individual patches keeping first patch as Control. Similarly rabbits of other three groups were subjected to brahmi, methi and hibiscus Oils respectively with different concentrations in same pattern.^24. this treatment was continued for 15 days and during the course the hair growth initiation pattern was observed

Hair growth activity:

The rats were divided into 5 groups of 5 rats each and 2 cm 2Area of the dorsal portion of each of the rats was shaved. Group 1 was kept as control, where there was no drug treatment and In Group 2 the standard 2% minoxidilethanolic solution was applied. In the remaining Groups 3, 4, 5 the three different concentrations; 2.5% (OD1), 5% (OD2) and 7.5% (OD3) of the herbal oil formulations were applied once a day respectively^25.

Chemical Evaluation test of herbal hair oil:

Acid value:

Weigh accurately appropriate amount of the cooled oil sample as mentioned in the above table in a 250ml conical flask Heat the mixture for about fifteen minutes in water bath. Titrate while hot against standard alkali solutions shaking vigorously this solution during the titration end point using phenopthalin indicator^26.

Safonification Value:

Sample treated withan excess alkali for half hour under reflux the pottasium hydroxide is consumed by reaction with triglycerides which consume equivalent of base.^27. Then use phenopthalin indicator which indicates the consumption of strong base.

CONCLUSION:

In general, Herbal hair oils are used for curin disorders of hairs such as baldness, aggression of hair, discoloring of hair, hair falling, and dryness of hair etc. All the values in the Evaluation of herbal hair oil showed that the test oil complies the requirements for physicochemical parameters prescribed by BIS. Hence, it is concluded that herbal hair oil is Beneficial in maintaining growth of hairs, turning grey hairs to black, providing protection From dandruff, and used for cleansing, modifying the texture of hair^28.

All these drugs not Only show remarkable activity but are also devoid of Potential side effects as compared to synthetic drugs. It gets absorbed into the scalp with in a shorter period of time and thus acts as nourishment to hairs. It acts as natural hair nourisher, helping in hair growth by the reduction of hair fall. Due to the addition of Neem it also acts as antidandruff hair tonic. Amla and Ecliptaalba helps in thickening and blackening sf hair.²⁸ Hibiscus helps in hair softening resulting in Healthy growth. All these dried and powered drugs Mixed with coconut oil in sufficient quantities will give a permanent solution for hair fall and proper hair Growth. This hair tonic also effectively used in treating headaches because of cooling effects and thus relieves from stress and strain conditions. It has shown good hair growth results without any allergic or side effects as it is completely constituted with naturally occurring crude drugs^29.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:

The authors are greatful to the authorities of Shri Sai College of pharmacy, khandala for the facilities.

CONFLICT OF INTREST:

The authors declare no conflict of Intrest.

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Received on 21.05.2023 Modified on 18.07.2023

Res. J. Pharma. Dosage Forms and Tech.2023; 15(4):289-292.

DOI: 10.52711/0975-4377.2023.00046