Subacute toxicity study and clinical trials for Ziziphus spina-christi leaves extract as an anti-dandruff shampoo

Abstract

In light of recent developments in the scientific and technological world, herbs are widely used as remedial agents. This study was aimed to formulate and evaluate the safety and the efficacy of herbal antidandruff shampoo from Ziziphus spina-christi (Sidr) leaves extract, which is used traditionally for several medical and cosmetic purposes. Sidr leaves were extracted by maceration using ethanol as a solvent. The antifungal activity of the plant extract was tested against M. furfur. In-vivo study of the extract has been evaluated with daily oral doses (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg) for 28 days for tested rats, followed by, evaluation of the biochemical and histological parameters. Subsequently, the plant extract was formulated as a shampoo and tested for its antidandruff efficiency on 80 volunteers, with dandruff, for four consecutive weeks. An obvious antifungal activity against M. furfur has been displayed by sidr extract, where 86% of the tested volunteers substantially ameliorated from dandruff with sidr shampoo formulation. The toxicity of the extract was not shown aberrant results as compared with the control group in biochemical analysis. However, mild histological harmful effects on the liver and kidney tissues appeared at high doses of the extract, 100 and 200mg/kg, when used orally. As a conclusion, sidr extract could be used topically as anti-dandruff shampoo formulation with high efficiency and good safety.