Skip to content
2000
Volume 4, Issue 1
  • ISSN: 2210-299X
  • E-ISSN: 2210-3007
file format pdf download PDF
file format text download EPUB
side by side viewer icon HTML

Abstract

Introduction

Scalp seborrheic dermatitis is a persistent scalp condition frequently linked to an overabundance of Malassezia yeast and is characterised by excessive oil production, dandruff, and irritation. Antifungal and anti-inflammatory drugs used in conventional therapies might cause dryness and irritation if synthetic formulations are used for extended periods.

Aim

This study aimed to formulate and evaluate an emulsion-based herbal-synthetic hybrid shampoo for scalp seborrheic dermatitis. This shampoo combines the therapeutic benefits of herbal extracts with synthetic surfactants to effectively control seborrhoeic dermatitis.

Materials and Methods

Different herbal extracts and synthetic APIs were incorporated into the herbal–synthetic hybrid shampoo, along with surfactants, co-surfactants, and other shampoo additives. Firstly, an emulsion was prepared using oil and aqueous phase ingredients, followed by shampoo preparation using additive ingredients.

Results

The designed shampoo had good physicochemical properties, including a thick, opaque viscosity, a potent essential oil scent, and an orange hue. As the pH (6-7) was within the range suitable for the scalp, there was less chance of discomfort. Its moderate foaming ability (4.4 cm foam height), decent cleaning action, and 21.4% washability ensured that excess oil and dandruff scales were effectively removed, leaving no residue behind. The solid content (23.57%) indicated that the active components were present in sufficient amounts for stability and effectiveness.

Discussion

The herbal-synthetic hybrid shampoo exhibited favourable physicochemical properties, effective cleansing, and scalp-friendly qualities, which could make it beneficial for scalp health and treatment of seborrhoeic dermatitis. However, further examination remains necessary.

Conclusion

The hybrid shampoo may prove to be a secure and efficient substitute for traditional antifungal therapies. More research is advised to increase its therapeutic value, including clinical assessments and improvements in formulation properties.

© 2026 The Author(s). Published by Bentham Science Publishers.
This is an open access article published under CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode
Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/cis/10.2174/012210299X429711251125060934
2025-11-28
2026-02-23

  • From This Site

    /content/journals/cis/10.2174/012210299X429711251125060934
    dcterms_title,dcterms_subject,pub_keyword
    -contentType:Contributor -contentType:Concept -contentType:Institution
    10
    5
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

/deliver/fulltext/cis/4/1/CIS-4-E2210299X429711.html?itemId=/content/journals/cis/10.2174/012210299X429711251125060934&mimeType=html&fmt=ahah

References

  1. MustarichieR. RostinawatiT. PitalokaD.A.E. SaptariniN.M. IskandarY. Herbal therapy for the treatment of seborrhea dermatitis.Clin. Cosmet. Investig. Dermatol.2022152391240510.2147/CCID.S37670036387964
     [Google Scholar]
  2. FaergemannJ. Management of seborrheic dermatitis and pityriasis versicolor.Am. J. Clin. Dermatol.200012758010.2165/00128071‑200001020‑0000111702314
     [Google Scholar]
  3. GuptaA.K. BluhmR. BarlowJ.O. FleischerA.B.Jr FeldmanS.R. Prescribing practices for seborrheic dermatitis vary with the physician’s specialty: Implications for clinical practice.J. Dermatolog. Treat.200415420821310.1080/0954663041003243015764032
     [Google Scholar]
  4. LallyA. CasabonneD. Imko-WalczukB. NewtonR. WojnarowskaF. Prevalence of benign cutaneous disease among Oxford renal transplant recipients.J. Eur. Acad. Dermatol. Venereol.201125446247010.1111/j.1468‑3083.2010.03814.x20738465
     [Google Scholar]
  5. GaitanisG. MagiatisP. HantschkeM. BassukasI.D. VelegrakiA. The Malassezia genus in skin and systemic diseases.Clin. Microbiol. Rev.201225110614110.1128/CMR.00021‑1122232373
     [Google Scholar]
  6. SchwartzJ. MessengerA. TostiA. ToddG. HordinskyM. HayR. WangX. ZachariaeC. KerrK. HenryJ. RustR. RobinsonM. A comprehensive pathophysiology of dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis - towards a more precise definition of scalp health.Acta Derm. Venereol.201393213113710.2340/00015555‑138222875203
     [Google Scholar]
  7. KowalskaM.K. WoźniakM. LudwińskiP.I. Emulsions, their quality and importance in food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries.Acta Pol Pharm202380686387710.32383/appdr/174249
     [Google Scholar]
  8. LazaroiuG ValaskovaK NicaE DuranaP KralP BartošP Techno-economic assessment: Food emulsion waste management.Energies20201318492210.3390/en13184922
     [Google Scholar]
  9. VenkataramaniD. TsulaiaA. AminS. Fundamentals and applications of particle stabilized emulsions in cosmetic formulations.Adv. Colloid Interface Sci.202028310223410.1016/j.cis.2020.10223432795669
     [Google Scholar]
  10. HougeirF.G. KircikL. A review of delivery systems in cosmetics.Dermatol. Ther.201225323423710.1111/j.1529‑8019.2012.01501.x22913440
     [Google Scholar]
  11. AmbergN. FogarassyC. Green consumer behavior in the cosmetics market.Resources20198313710.3390/resources8030137
     [Google Scholar]
  12. Al BadiK. KhanS.A. Formulation, evaluation and comparison of the herbal shampoo with the commercial shampoos.Beni. Suef Univ. J. Basic Appl. Sci.20143430130510.1016/j.bjbas.2014.11.005
     [Google Scholar]
  13. BalkrishnaA. NgpooreN.K. JonwalH. LochabS. VarshneyA. Anti-furfurative comparison of Kesh Kanti-Herbal Shampoos and synthetic shampoos against Malassezia furfur for dandruff management.AMB Express2025151810.1186/s13568‑024‑01818‑w39806025
     [Google Scholar]
  14. MekaM. MutyalaK.R. GadelaR. SeruG. Acute dermal and ocular irritation testing of herbal shampoos in New Zealand white rabbits.Development20222022
     [Google Scholar]
  15. GubitosaJ. RizziV. FiniP. CosmaP. Hair care cosmetics: From traditional shampoo to solid clay and herbal shampoo, a review.Cosmetics2019611310.3390/cosmetics6010013
     [Google Scholar]
  16. AyatollahiA. FiroozA. LotfaliE. MojabF. FattahiM. Herbal therapy for the management of seborrheic dermatitis: A narrative review.Recent Adv. Antiinfect. Drug Discov.202116320922610.2174/277243441666621102911321335026970
     [Google Scholar]
  17. SubapriyaR. NaginiS. Medicinal properties of neem leaves: A review.Curr. Med. Chem. Anticancer Agents20055214915610.2174/156801105317482815777222
     [Google Scholar]
  18. DaniP.B. GhorpadeV.K. Effect of neem leaf paste application on dandruff.Cureus20251738068510.7759/cureus.8068540242687
     [Google Scholar]
  19. SinghV. RoyM. GargN. KumarA. AroraS. MalikD.S. An insight into the dermatological applications of neem: A review on traditional and modern aspect.Recent Adv. Antiinfect. Drug Discov.20211629412110.2174/277243441666621060410525134961431
     [Google Scholar]
  20. NiharikaA. AquicioJ.M. AnandA. Antifungal properties of neem (Azadirachta indica) leaves extract to treat hair dandruff.E-ISRJ20102244252
     [Google Scholar]
  21. GintingM. SeptianaL. Br. Ginting GA. Activity test of neem leaf (azadirachta indica a. juss) anti-dambry shampoo on fungus (Malassezia Furfur).Inter. Arch. Med. Sci. Public Health20234172610.53806/iamsph.v4i2.636
     [Google Scholar]
  22. KirmaniDA WahabA AslamM JavedR SiddiquiA MukhtarF et al An evidence-based review on its phytochemical aspect, ethnopharmacology, therapeutic potential and its dermatological benefits.World J Pharm Res202413353554910.20959/wjpr20243‑31161
     [Google Scholar]
  23. DontjeA.E.W.K. Schuiling-VeningaC.C.M. van HunselF.P.A.M. EkhartC. DemirciF. WoerdenbagH.J. The therapeutic potential of essential oils in managing inflammatory skin conditions: A scoping review.Pharmaceuticals202417557110.3390/ph1705057138794141
     [Google Scholar]
  24. EnechukwuN.A. OgunbiyiA.O. A review of indigenous therapies for hair and scalp disorders in Nigeria.Dermatol. Ther.20223561550510.1111/dth.1550535411563
     [Google Scholar]
  25. KeragalaR.K. KempitiyaK.S. KumaraK. KumarapeliN.N. KasunsiriT.D. GunathilakaS.S. A review on potential herbal treatments for ‘dandruff’ - the embarrassing scalp disorder.Anuradh. Med. J.20201412110.4038/amj.v14i1.7653
     [Google Scholar]
  26. SimõesG.A. ZampiroliL.J. FronzaM. Unraveling the potential of natural bioactives in combating hair loss and scalp disorders.Medicinal Plants: Traditional Wisdom and Modern Science.São Paulo, SPEditora Científica Digital2024121222610.37885/240616848
     [Google Scholar]
  27. ChaisripipatW. LourithN. KanlayavattanakulM. Anti-dandruff hair tonic containing lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus) oil.Complement. Med. Res.201522422622910.1159/00043240726566122
     [Google Scholar]
  28. RatnayakeR.N.K. Malkanthi DaundasekeraW.A. AriyarathneH.M. GanehenegeM.Y.U. Pre-harvest root application of soluble silicon improves postharvest quality and induces antifungal compounds in bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.).Phytoparasitica201846454154910.1007/s12600‑018‑0680‑8
     [Google Scholar]
  29. SharmaL. AgarwalD. SaxenaS. KumarH. KumarM. VermaJ. Antibacterial and Antifungal activity of ajwain (Trachyspermum ammi) in different solvent.J. Pharmacogn. Phytochem.2018726722674
     [Google Scholar]
  30. HassanS.T.S. BerchováK. ŠudomováM. Antimicrobial, antiparasitic and anticancer properties of Hibiscus sabdariffa (L.) and its phytochemicals: In vitro and in vivo studies.Ceska Slov. Farm.2016651101410.36290/csf.2016.00227118499
     [Google Scholar]
  31. NyamathS. KarthikeyanB. Syed NyamathC. In vitro Antifungal activity of lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) leaf extracts.J. Pharmacogn. Phytochem.2018711481151
     [Google Scholar]
  32. WodnickaA. HuzarE. KrawczykM. KwiecieńH. Synthesis and antifungal activity of new salicylic acid derivatives.Pol. J. Chem. Technol.201719114314810.1515/pjct‑2017‑0019
     [Google Scholar]
  33. ReddyV.S. Formulation and evaluation of synthetic anti-dandruff shampoo.Asian J Pharm2018121S87S91
     [Google Scholar]
  34. WaksheA. ThoratA. TamboliS. ThoratS. MurgudeM.M. Preparation and evaluation of semi-synthetic antidandruff shampoo.Res. J. Top. Cosmet. Sci.2019102576010.5958/2321‑5844.2019.00012.8
     [Google Scholar]
  35. KumarA MaliRR Evaluation of prepared shampoo formulations and to compare formulated shampoo with marketed shampoos.Int J Pharm Sci Rev Res201031120127
     [Google Scholar]
  36. MeunierL. GenrichF. YanesM.T.F. Advancing salicylic acid-based dandruff control.Aqua2023696568
     [Google Scholar]
  37. TelrandheM.U. Formulation, evaluation, and comparison of herbal shampoo with commercially available shampoos.Asian J Pharm202317354455010.22377/ajp.v17i03.4999
     [Google Scholar]
  38. AghelN. MoghimipourB. DanaR.A. Formulation of a herbal shampoo using total saponins of Acanthophyllum squarrosum.Iran. J. Pharm. Res.20076167172
     [Google Scholar]
  39. TarunJ. SusanJ. SuriaJ. SusanV.J. CritonS. Evaluation of pH of bathing soaps and shampoos for skin and hair care.Indian J. Dermatol.201459544244410.4103/0019‑5154.13986125284846
     [Google Scholar]
  40. AliH.S. KadhimR.B. Abdul RasoolB.K. Formulation and evaluation of herbal shampoo from Ziziphus spina leaves extract.IJRAP2011218021806
     [Google Scholar]
  41. GaudR.S. GuptaG.D. Practical Physical Pharmacy.1st EdCBS Publ Dist Pvt Ltd2001
     [Google Scholar]
  42. IltonP.S. DeptuckR. BousfieldB. VergeD. AntoniK. MacRaeL. Shampoo after craniotomy: A pilot study.Can. J. Neurosci. Nurs.200729141918441623
     [Google Scholar]
/content/journals/cis/10.2174/012210299X429711251125060934
Loading
Formulation and Evaluation of Emulsion-based Herbal-Synthetic Hybrid Shampoo for Scalp Seborrheic Dermatitis
Curr. Indian Sci. 4, E2210299X429711 (2026); https://doi.org/10.2174/012210299X429711251125060934
/content/journals/cis/10.2174/012210299X429711251125060934
/content/journals/cis/10.2174/012210299X429711251125060934
Loading

Data & Media loading...


  • Article Type:     Research Article
Keyword(s): Antifungal treatment; Cleansing efficacy; Emulsion-based shampoo; Herbal-synthetic hybrid; pH balance; Scalp health; Scalp seborrheic dermatitis

Most Cited Most Cited RSS feed

This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a Success
Invalid data
An Error Occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error
Please enter a valid_number test