A holistic approach for formulation and evaluation of poly herbal shampoos

The study aimed to formulate a pure herbal shampoo and to evaluate and compare its physico-chemical properties with the marketed synthetic and herbal shampoos. The herbal shampoo was formulated by addition of extracts in different concentrations of Azadiracta indica, Annona squamosa, Citrus sinensis, Eucalyptus globulus, Sapindus mukorossi in different proportions to a 10% aqueous gelatin solution. Small amount of methyl paraben was added as a preservative and pH was adjusted with citric acid. Several tests such as visual inspection, pH, wetting time,% of solid contents, foam volume and stability, detergency, dirt dispersion, skin and eye irritation tests and anti-head lice activity, etc. were performed to determine the physicochemical properties of both prepared and marketed shampoos. Polyherbal shampoo was clear and appearing. It showed good cleansing and detergency, small bubble size and marketed shampoos showed comparable results for 5 solid contents also. Compared to synthetic shampoos formulated polyherbal shampoos showed maximum paralysis or death time. When concentration increased, paralysis time decreased. The results indicated that the formulated shampoo is having excellent anti-head lice activity at par with commercially available shampoo. Death time of f3 formulation showed maximum effect on paralyse of human lice and cattle lice with in less duration in 18 minutes, 95% of lice killed. Saponin containing reeta used as a shampoo base and control death time period is 60 minutes. So, further research and development is required to improve its quality & safety