The commercial shampoos have chemically derived foaming and cleansing agents, these agents lead to dryness, hair loss, eyes and scalp irritation. This article were crafted to herbal formulation using these herbal formulations. There potential effects on hair were evaluated using biochemical procedure viz., Visual assessment, pH, solid content determination, dirt dispersion, surface tension measurement, foaming stability, wetting time and visual inspection.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Authenticated plant materials were collected from local market, Kota Rajasthan and identified from Department of Pharmacognosy, Lzebra College of Pharmacy, Kota Rajasthan.

The selected herbs were washed using clean water thoroughly to remove dirt and contaminant, shade dried, coarsely powdered and extracted by cold maceration method separately by agitation in 70% methanol for 7 days. The extractives were filtered and concentrated in room temperature. The concentrated extracts were stored in air tight containers at 4°C for formulation of shampoo¹⁵.

Chemicals used in the experiments were purchased from MERCK (Mumbai).

Ingredient	Formulation (100gms)	Uses
*Sapindus mukorossi*	5gm	Cleanser, foaming agent⁴
*Emblica officinalis*	25gm	Nourish hair, making it thicker, stronger, and more lustrous⁵
*Bacopa monnieri*	5gm	strengthening roots, reducing breakage, and improving scalp health⁶
*Aloe barbadensis*	100ml	Provides nourishment⁷
*Ocimum sanctum*	10gms	Treats headlice and skin disorder^8,9
*Moringa oleifera*	10gms	Antiaging, emollient, hair care and skin lightening¹⁰.
*Murraya koenigii*	5gm	Prevent greying, for hair growth, prevents hair thinning, prevent dandruff^11,12.

The organoleptic characters were evaluated using standard laboratory protocols so as to ensure quality of the product.

Visual Assessment:

The crafted shampoo was assessed for colour, clarity, odor and froth content.

pH determination:

For the pH determination shampoo solution was diluted to 10% v/v and the values were determined by means of pH analyser at room temperature¹⁶.

Determination of solid content:

Shampoo solution (5gm) was kept on previously weighted Petri dish. The aqueous portion was evaporated using hot plate. The ranges was calculated using following formula¹⁷.

% Solid Content = C-A/B-A×100

A = Weight of the petri plate

B = Weight of the petri plate with shampoo

C = Weight of the petri plate after completely dried shampoo

Dirt dispersion:

Two drops of shampoo solution were added to 10ml of distilled water. After adding one mL of India ink the tube was sealed with cork. The test tube was shaken thoroughly and results were calculated¹⁸.

Cleansing action:

For evaluation of cleansing action of shampoo 5grams of wool yarn was dipped in grease, after that wool is placed in 200ml of water with 1ml herbal of herbal shampoo. Temperature of the flask was maintained at 35°C with constant shaking (50rpm). The solution was decanted and sample was weighed after complete drying. The amount of grease removed was calculated using following equation

DP = 100 (1-T/C)

DP is the percentage of detergency capacity. where C is the weight of grease in the control sample, T is the weight of grease in the test sample¹⁹.

Surface tension measurement:

Dilute sample of shampoo was prepared using distilled water (10%). Stalagmometer was used for measurement of surface tension²⁰.

R2 = (W3-W1)n1/(W2-W1)n2 × R1

Where, W1 weight of empty beaker;

W₂ is weight of beaker with distilled water;

W₃ is Weight of beaker with HS solution;

n₁ is no. of drops of distilled water.

n₂ is no. of drops of HS solution.

R₁ is surface tension of distilled water at room temperature.

R₂ is surface tension of HS solution.

Detergent ability:

Crumple hair was washed with 5% sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) solution. Hair sample was dried and divided into 3 gm weight groups. The hair sample were suspended in n-hexane solution (with 10% artificial sebum) then, the mixture was taken to rest for 15 min at RT. Now the hair samples were removed, dried and their sebum content was determined. Hairs were taken into three equal parts. One was washed with 0.1 ml of 10% herbal shampoo and other sample without washing consider as negative control. After complete drying the third sample was washed with n-hexane solution. The percentage of detergent capacity was calculated using the following equation

DP = 100(1-T/C) where T is the weight of sebum in the test sample, C is the weight of grease in the control sample, and DP is the percentage of detergency power²².

Foaming ability and foam stability:

Using cylinder shake method foaming ability was measured. 50ml of 1% herbal shampoo solution was mixed in 250ml graduated cylinder. The test cylinder was covered and shaken 10 times. Foam volumes were calculated in triplicate measuring after 1 minute of constant shaking²².

Compound Microscopy:

The hair quality was examined under compound microscope²³. The hair samples with and without shampoo treatment were mounted directly on glass slide with the help of double-sided tape. The photomicrographs taken on 45x was used for surface characterization.

RESULT AND DISCUSSION:

Table 1: Physical characteristic comparison between herbal formulation and commercial shampoo (Himalaya Shampoo)

S. No.	Characteristics	Results	Himalaya Shampoo
1	Physical appearance	Brown transparent	White
2.	Ph	6.2±0.03	5.72±0.02
3	Solid content	0.3g/L	0.4 g/L
4	Wetting time	120second	135 second
5.	Rheological evaluation	0.93	0.80
6.	Dirt dispersion	The esteemed amount of ink in the foam is light	Moderate
7.	Cleansing action	14%	26%
8	Surface tension measurement (dyne/cm)	24.5±2	28.45±0.06
9	Detergent ability	Good	good
10	Foaming ability and foam stability	48ml	50ml
11	Compound microscopy	45x	45x
12	Viscosity (mPa.s at RT)	30,000	50,000

The appearance, difference in the characteristics along with the physical parameters was described in table 1.

Discussion of Results:

Physical appearance:

On physical or visual appearance prepared shampoo was transparent, light brown in appearance with good odor (Figure 1). In terms of transparency, odor and foaming characteristics there is no significant difference.

Figure 1: Freshly prepared Herbal shampoo

pH determination:

The pH of the shampoo is 6.2 so it will not damage scalp health and proved milder than commercial products (pH of the Himalaya shampoo is 5.72). As the pH also reduces the irritation to eyes and maintaining the ecological balance of scalp. The ideal range of the shampoo is about 7-5 and our shampoo ranges between the permissible limits.

Solid content:

The permissible limit of solid content is in the range 25-30%. If it is less the shampoo will be too watery and washed away easily and if it more it will too hard to wash off. The amount of solid content is 0.3g/L which is comparable to commercial shampoo (0.25g/L).

Surface tension:

Represent the amount of surfactant to reduce the surface tension. Lesser the surface tension more will be the cleaning ability. The characteristic of a good shampoo is to reduce the surface tension of pure water 72.28 dyne/cm to about 40 dyne/cm. Herbal shampoo surface tension is 24.5±2dyne/cm with comparison to Himalya shampoo 28.45±0.06dyne/cm. The reduction of surface tension indicates good detergent action.

Foam Stability:

Herbal shampoo form small medium dense and uniform type of foam. The foam was stable even after 5 minutes of period that suggest good stability.

Wetting time:

Lesser will be wetting time exhibiting more detergent capacity. Our formulated shampoo showed more detergent/cleansing capacity to commercial shampoo (wetting time 120 sec as compare to 135 sec for Himalaya shampoo).

Viscosity:

Viscosity has an important role in controlling shelf life, stability and product aesthetics such as spreading when applied on hair, clarity and easy flow. The viscosity is similar to the commercially available shampoo. (30,000 mPa.s at RT as compared to 50,000mPa.s at RT in Himalaya shampoo).

Compound Microscope analysis:

In compound microscopy firstly the dirt suspended hair sample was analysed this hair was rough in texture with soli and dirt particle (Figure 2). The hair sample was washed with commercial Shampoo i.e. Himalaya shampoo (Figure 3). The washed hair was clean but hair texture was not smooth. The third hair sample was washed with Herbal shampoo the microscopic examination showed smooth in texture and clear hair sample (Figure 4)

Figure 2: Dirt suspended hair sample

Figure 3: Hair sample washed with Himalaya Shampoo

Figure 4: Hair washed with Herbal Shampoo

CONCLUSION:

Using traditionally used hair care herbs herbal shampoo was prepared. As medicinal herbs were used since ancient times to maintain cleanliness, dandruff removal and overall strength to the hairs^24,25,26. Since the chemically synthesized shampoo show side effects in several users as well as they are not cost effective for majority of population^27,28. All the ingredient used for preparation of herbal shampoo are of laboratory grade and their characterization show better results than in commercial preparation. All the ingredient used to formulate shampoo are safer than synthetic shampoo prepared in market. Chemically synthesized prepared shampoo reduces the hair growth or protein loss during combing^29,30,31. In the present study the prepared herbal shampoo gives the same physicochemical characteristic as the synthetic prepared one. Several research articles show evaluation of in vitro antifungal properties³². Furthermore, high quality assurance testing will be conducted in vitro as well as on laboratory animals.

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Received on 09.01.2026 Revised on 24.03.2026

Accepted on 15.05.2026 Published on 08.07.2026

Available online from July 13, 2026

Res. J. Pharmacognosy and Phytochem. 2026; 18(3):223-227.

DOI: 10.52711/0975-4385.2026.00031

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Creative Commons License.

S. No	Common Names	Botanical names	Hair care properties
1.	Reetha	Sapindus mukorossi	Reetha, also known as soapnut, provides cleansing properties, with effective dirt and impurities removal, while maintaining the scalp's natural oil. Reetha additionally promoting healthy hair⁴.
2.	Amla	Emblica officinalis linn.	Amla (Indian gooseberry) well known for hair health promotion, stimulating growth inhibits premature greying, making it thicker, stronger, and more lustrous⁵.
3.	Brahmi	Bacopa monnieri Linn.	Prove effective in strengthening roots, reducing breakage, and improving scalp health, with studies showing benefits like reduced flaking and enhanced hair texture⁶.
4.	Aloevera	Aloe barbadensis Mill.	Aloe vera contains various bioactive compounds, including vitamins, proteolytic enzymes, and amino acids, which nourish the scalp and stimulate hair growth⁷.
5.	Tulsi	Ocimum sanctum Linn	It is used for early hair fall and greying. Tulsi seed with castor oil used as hair lice preventing remedy. The leaves contain ursolic acid, apigenin, luteolin, oleanolic and rosmarinic acid. Antioxidants, present in tulsi neutralize harmful effects of free radicals, and thus arrest aging^8,9.
6.	Moringa	Moringa oleifera	Moringa edible oil has antioxidant, antiaging, emollient, hair care and skin lightening properties (Siddhuraju and Becker 2003). Moringa seed oil contains phytosterol β-sitosterol, stigmasterol and compasterol¹¹, that reduces alopecia by inhibiting the enzyme 5 α-reductase found in hair follicles^12,13.
7.	Curry Leaves	Murraya koenigii	Prevent Premature greying, stimulates hair growth, rejuvenation of hair follicles, strengthen hair shafts, prevents hair thinning, helps remove dead hair follicles and have anti-dandruff properties¹⁴.