Comparison of Anti-Dandruff Activity of Synthetic Shampoos and Crude Plant Extracts on Dandruff Causing Isolate
Chapter One
PREAMBLE OF THE STUDY
Malassezia converts the sebum lipid into fatty acids and triglycerides, which accelerate hyperproliferation of keratinoytes (Singla et al., 2011). The treatment options [ointments, lotions, shampoos] currently available for management of dandruff have zinc pyrithione, salicylic acid, imidazole derivatives, selenium sulphide, tar derivatives, ketocanazole etc. as key ingredients (Vijayakumar et al.,2006). These synthetic treatment options have certain limitations, which may be due to poor efficacies or due to compliance issues (Vijayakumar et al., 2006). These are unable to prevent reoccurrence of dandruff with side effects that cannot be neglected. The best approach to treat dandruff is to use plants and herbal formulations which possess antidandruff properties. Studies evaluating antifungal effect of essential oils have also been reported (Lee et al., 2010: Arora et al., 2013). Antifungal activity of different plant extracts against Malassezia furfur is carried out in this work. Various natural plant extracts are known for their antidandruff properties. Evaluation of anti-fungal properties of such plant extracts can be done and they can be used effectively as an alternative to chemical agents in various anti dandruff formulations. Along with anti-fungal properties, plant extracts are also known for their conditioning properties which will be fruitful in maintaining the overall health of scalp and hair (Balakrishnan et al., 2011).
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
Dandruff
Dandruff is a chronic scalp condition characterized by scaling, itching and redness of the scalp. It occurs when scalp sheds epidermal cells in large clumps. The skin of scalp renews itself about once a month. Usually, scalp sheds dead cells in nearly invisible way, but sometimes cell turnover becomes unusually rapid and dead cells are shed as visible flakes called dandruff (Loden and Wessman, 2000). Dandruff is a major cosmetic problem that poses very great public health concern both in developed and developing countries (Krishnamoorthy et al., 2006).
According to the symptoms dandruff is classified into two types – Dry (common) and Oily. Dry dandruff also known as Pityriasis simplex is characterized by excessive formation of minute scales of white grayish or ashen color, accumulating on the scalp area. These scales are at first localized in the middle of scalp area and then spread towards parietal, frontal and occipital areas. In this type of dandruff, no excessive hair loss is observed. The other type of dandruff is called oily dandruff or Pityriasis steatoides. It arises on the scalp skin with varied intensity of sebum production. Inflammation of varied intensity develops on the scalp skin along with the appearance of oily scales of dirty yellow colour that can form lesions. Hair fall is common; it may also exacerbate androgenetic alopecia. The most common site affected by this type of dandruff is scalp, but it can occur between eyebrows, along the side of nose, behind the ears, over the breastbone and sometimes in the armpits (Nowicki, 2006). Dandruff scale is a cluster of corneocytes, which have retained a large degree of cohesion with one another and detach as such from the surface of the stratum corneum. In the physiological spectrum of scaling about 487,000 cells/cm2 get released normally after detergent treatment and their number goes up to 800,000 cells/cm2 during dandruff and seborrhoeic dermatitis. Dandruff can almost be controlled and effectively treated, but the treatment of dandruff may take a little patience and persistence. In general, daily cleansing with a gentle shampoo to reduce oiliness and skin cell build up can often help mild dandruff. When regular shampoos are not effective, dandruff shampoos can be used. Also, dandruff shampoos are not all alike, and one may need to experiment until they find the one which best suits them. The formulations must be suitable for hairy regions and combat the dandruff conditions. It is therefore essential that these formulations have accepted pharmaceutical properties at the cosmetological level (Gupta et al., 2004).
According to one study, scaling of the scalp has also been shown to be possibly the result of other factors but the major difference is that dandruff causes itching and tingling of the scalp and produces much flakes. Skin oil commonly referred to as sebum or sebaceous secretions (Ro and Dawson 2005). The metabolic by-products of skin micro-organisms (most specifically Malassezia yeasts)
Irritated, oily skin (seborrheic dermatitis): This condition, one of the most frequent causes of dandruff, is marked by red, greasy skin covered with flaky white or yellow scales. Seborrheic dermatitis may affect your scalp and other areas rich in oil glands, such as your eyebrows, the sides of your nose and the backs of your ears, your breastbone (sternum), your groin area, and sometimes your armpits (Gupta et al., 2004).Not shampooing often enough: If you don’t regularly wash your hair, oils and skin cells from your scalp can build up, causing dandruff. The extra skin cells die and fall off, making them appear white and flaky in your hair or on your clothes. Dry skin: Flakes from dry skin are generally smaller and less oily than those from other causes of dandruff. And, redness or inflammation is unlikely. You’ll probably have dry skin on other parts of the body, such as your legs and arms, too.
Sensitivity to hair care products (contact dermatitis): Sometimes sensitivities to certain ingredients in hair care products or hair dyes can cause a red, itchy, scaly scalp. (Gemmer et al., 2002) Individual susceptibility and allergy sensitivity.
Treatment of Dandruff
Different types of formulations like shampoos, creams, lotions, emulsions, hair oils and other cosmetic formulations are readily available in the market that are used to control dandruff.
These formulations include therapeutic use of anti-dandruff agents that are classified into three groups according to their mechanism of action;
- Fungicidal substances: e.g., zinc pyrithione and imidazoles.
- Cytostatic substances: e.g., tar, selenium sulfide and octopirox.
- Keratolytic substances: e.g., salicyclic acid and sulfur compounds (Adamski, 1995).
A shampoo may be described as a cosmetic preparation required for the washing of hair and scalp, packed in a form which is convenient for use. The word shampoo comes from the french word meaning Beard soap (Nanda et al., 2006). Its primary function is to cleanse the hair of accumulated sebum, scalp debris and residues of hair grooming preparations. The added functions of shampoo include lubrication, conditioning, body building, and prevention of static charge build up, medication and so on.
CHAPTER THREE
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Different plant extracts that possess various active compounds which have antifungal activity were used and also some synthetic shampoo to help study and overcome the incidence of the disease and also avoid the emergence of resistance in the pathogen. The inhibitory action was studied using agar well assay and the results indicated in percentage of inhibition.
Sample Collection: In the clinical study the organism was isolated from scalp of person suffering from Dandruff Flakes or scales, collected by partitioning the hair with a sterile comb and scrapping approximately one inch area using a sterile blunt scalpel. The specimen was then transferred into a dark sampling paper to prevent exposure to sunlight. The samples were inoculated over the surface of Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA) plus olive oil which was incorporated with chloramphenicol to avoid bacterial contaminants into sterile petri plates. The plates were then incubated at 30°C for 7 days, which were observed regularly.
Sample Analysis
Culture media preparation
The culture media used Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA) was prepared according to manufacturer’s specification and sterilized in an autoclave at 121°C at 15psi for 15mins.
Direct microscopy: A drop of 10% KOH was added onto a clean slide containing the smear of sample and covered using a cover slip. The sample was then heated over a Bunsen burner to remove bubbles. The slides were viewed under 40X objective lens.
CHAPTER FOUR
RESULT
Among the plant extracts tested Lemon showed the highest zone followed by lime, Neem plant and aloe vera while among the synthetic antidandruff shampoo venoz showed the highest zone followed by Adal A hair shampoo, vintage and 24 hours shampoo. Comparatively the plant extracts shampoos showed a high zone of inhibition than the shampoos. The inhibition zones of antidandruff shampoos almost matched with those of plant extracts but the sum effect of the later were greater.
CHAPTER FIVE
DISCUSSION
Dandruff is a common disease caused by Malassezia species especially Malassezia furfur. The lipolytic activity of these organisms induces hydrolysis of human sebum triglycerides in to free fatty acids that cause both hair loss and scalp. Medically significant fungi are known to grow on Sabouraud’s agar medium. The present isolate being lipolytic grew well on olive oil this is in accordance with other reports on growth of Malassezia. All the antidandruff shampoos had good antifungal activity but there is considerable variation in the potency of their antifungal activity depending on the active compound. This work corresponds to the work of previous author Parthasarathi et al., (2014) who reported that the causative organism isolated as Malassezia furfur and further studied the antifungal activity of various plant extracts and synthetic shampoo on the organism and found out that the more zone of inhibition was shown by plant extracts than synthetic shampoo with sun flower (30mm using water as extract) having the highest zone of inhibition followed by lemon (27mm), aloe vera (17mm), lime (15mm), hibiscus plant and neem plant (10mm) while the best antidandruff shampoo was Vivel Ultra Pro (20mm) as it contains Ketocanozole which is reported to be anti-malassezial agent. This was followed by Dove (14mm) and Head and Shoulders (10mm) as they contain antifungal compounds like Zinc Pyrithione therefore comparatively the plant extracts showed a high zone of inhibition than the shampoos. The inhibition zones of antidandruff shampoos at low concentrations almost matched with those of plant extracts.
Also, Mamatha et al., (2016) both crude and powdered extracts were prepared and tested against Malassezia furfur by cup plate method and zone of inhibitions were measured. Out of the selected plant parts, lemon juice & lemon peel powder showed maximum activity. Next to lemon extracts a good activity was observed with Amla, shikakai, henna, aloe vera extracts. Lemon, aloe vera had good antifungal activity as compared to other plant extracts. Lemon juice (2.4cm), henna extract (2cm) and amla (1.8cm) combinations showed best activity as compared to other combinations. Antidandruff activities of three different branded antidandruff shampoos were also studied and their zone of inhibitions noted. These results were considered as standard reference and compared the results of the extracts with that of the shampoos. On comparison one can say that the plant extracts showed a considerable activity against dandruff causing organism Malassezia furfur and can be used to treat dandruff which causes no side effects.
It is concluded that we can widely use the plant extracts for the anti dandruff activity against Malassezia species and it is cheap and less side effect due to its herbal property but Mistry et al., (2016) discovered that Herbal anti-dandruff shampoos were also found to be effective but their anti-dandruff effect was less compared to synthetic ones. Further this research work can help educate patients on the use of natural plants for the treatment of dandruff infection and use of natural plant products is not only cost effective but also negligible side effects and synergistic mixtures of plant extracts could help eliminate dandruff is a major cosmetic problem faster and effectively.
CONCLUSION
The present study was significant as not only efficient known plant products with anti-dandruff activity could be compared with commercially available shampoos but also their better efficacies could be identified. Further this research work can help make a polyherbal mixture that could be incorporated in hair oil or shampoos for better anti-dandruff activity or even encourage the use of whole plant extract for treatment rather than synthetic products which could have long term effects on the users of such product.
The reasons for the lower activity of the synthetic shampoo to that of the crude plant extract on dandruff causing isolate could be that:
- The ingredients claimed to be present might not be present or if present was below the working concentration to which it could effectively inhibit the growth of the organism.
- The ingredients may be antagonist reducing the sum of the effects of the whole shampoo.
- The organism might have developed resistance against the antidandruff shampoo which it has been exposed to.
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