Abstract:
The present work describes the development and evaluation of topical polyherbal hair
spray prepared from extracts of Allium cepa, Allium sativum, Eclipta alba, Aloe vera,
Hibiscus rosa sinensis, Psidium guajava and, Camellia sinensis; as a safer alternative
therapy to allopathic formulations.
The physicochemical and phytochemical screening was performed for the extracts.
Compatibility study was performed by TLC. The polyherbal hair spray was optimized
using different concentration of PVP K 30 and PEG 6000 as independent variables;
Drying time, Volume per spray and Area of film as dependent variables using 32
factorial design with the help of Design Expert Software in order to obtain polyherbal
hair spray formulation having maximum Volume per Spray and Area of Film and
minimum Drying Time. The optimized formula was further evaluated by different
parameters like pH, dose uniformity, leak test, qualitative hair growth analysis and
quantitative hair growth analysis.
TLC study showed compatibility of excipients with the extracts. The optimized
formulation was found brown in colour, having characteristic odour, pH 5.6±1.3,
drying time 280±0.21 sec, volume per spray 0.12±0.64 ml, area of film 159.28±2.07
cm2, hair growth initiation time 8 days, hair growth completion time 22 days and
mean hair length 3.4±0.25 mm. For the optimized batch 37,1 and 12 follicles were
found to be in anagen, catagen and telogen phase respectively. Further, animal study
showed no skin irritation and prepared formulation was found to be stable.
Although the polyherbal hair spray formulation does not supersede the effects seen
with standard minoxidil treatment, at least it is devoid of side effect profile seen with
minoxidil. Hence, it can be concluded that the polyherbal hair spray formulation F6
has a potential effect on maintaining the hair growth and has an excellent hair growth
activity with no or minimal side effects.
