Preparation, evaluation and hair growth stimulating activity of herbal hair oil

Herbal formulations always have attracted considerable attention because of their good activity and comparatively lesser or nil side effects with synthetic drugs. The objective of present study involves preparation of herbal hair oil using amla, hibiscus, brahmi, methi and its evaluation for increase in hair growth activity. Each drug was tested for their hair growth activity in a concentration range for 1-10% separately. Based on these results mixture of crude drugs fruits of Embelica officinalis, flowers of Hibiscus rosa sinensis, leaves of Bacopa monnieri and seeds of Trigonella foenumgraecum were prepared in varying concentration in the form of herbal hair oil by three different oils preparation techniques (direct boiling, paste and cloth method) and were tested for hair growth activity. The oil of different concentrations were characterized for proximate analysis including moisture content, total ash, acid insoluble ash, water soluble ash, water insoluble ash, sulphated ash. The formulations were also subjected to chromatographic determination and chemical tests to determine the presence of active constituents in the drugs. But looking towards the formulation viscosity the maximum concentration of combined drug was found to be 30% at their maximum level. The formulation containing 7.5% of each drug used for the study and showed excellent hair growth activity with standard (2% minoxidil ethanolic solution) by an enlargement of follicular size and prolongation of the anagen phase. It holds the promise of potent herbal alternative for minoxidil. Excellent results of hair growth were seen in formulation prepared by boiling method of oils preparation technique.