1Department of Quality Assurance, Progressive Education Society's Modern College of Pharmacy, Nigdi, Pune, India-411044
2Department of Pharmacognosy, Progressive Education Society's Modern College of Pharmacy, Nigdi, Pune, India-411044
3Department of Pharmacognosy, Marathwada Mitra Mandal College of Pharmacy, Thergaon, Pune, India-411044
Corresponding Author:
Dr. B. P. Pimple, Head, Department of Pharmacognosy, P. E. Society's Modern College of Pharmacy, Nigdi, Pune, India-411044
Email: pimplebhushan@yahoo.co.in
Background & Objective: Seborrheic dermatitis (dandruff), predominantly caused by Malassezia furfur, represents a prevalent dermatologic condition affecting populations globally. While ketoconazole-based shampoos remain the gold-standard topical therapy, their significant adverse effects—including alopecia, dry scalp, eye irritation, and abnormal hair texture—necessitate safer alternatives. This study aimed to develop and evaluate herbal shampoo formulations enriched with isolated phytoconstituents as viable ketoconazole replacements for seborrheic dermatitis management.
Methods: Eleven shampoo formulations were developed incorporating isolated phytoconstituents: eugenol, rutin, menthol, camphor, marjoram oil, lavender oil, tea tree oil, and sandalwood oil (individually and in combination). Physicochemical characterization encompassed pH, viscosity, surface tension, foam production and stability, dirt dispersion, and wetting time assessment. Performance parameters included cleansing efficacy via detergency analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of treated hair tresses. Safety was evaluated through dermal irritation testing in Wistar rats. Antifungal potency was determined via agar well diffusion assay against Malassezia furfur (MTCC-1374) at four concentrations (5–40%), with IC50 calculation. Ketoconazole shampoo (Ketocip) served as positive control and unsupplemented formulation as negative control.
Results: All formulations demonstrated physicochemical properties within acceptable parameters (pH 5–8; surface tension 31–36 dynes/cm). Shampoos containing eugenol, rutin, menthol, and camphor exhibited IC50 values comparable to the ketoconazole standard. Notably, these formulations demonstrated superior detergency, optimal foam characteristics, and excellent dirt dispersion. Critically, no formulation induced dermal irritation (erythema/edema), establishing substantially enhanced safety compared to ketoconazole-induced adverse effects.
Conclusion: Phytoconstituent-enriched shampoo formulations, particularly those containing eugenol, rutin, menthol, and camphor, provide viable therapeutic alternatives to ketoconazole for seborrheic dermatitis management. These formulations achieve comparable antifungal efficacy through ergosterol inhibition while demonstrating an improved safety profile. This multi-phytoconstituent approach offers a paradigm shift toward safer, natural therapeutics in dermatological product development.
Keywords: antifungal; camphor; ergosterol inhibition; eugenol; ketoconazole; Malassezia furfur; menthol; phytoconstituents; rutin; seborrheic dermatitis.
How to cite this article: Chattar H, Dongare T, Kuchekar M, Pimple B, Kadam P, Yadav K, Karanje A. Herbal Shampoo Formulations Enriched with Phytoconstituents as Effective Alternatives to Ketoconazole: Comparative Physicochemical and Antifungal Evaluation Against Malassezia furfur. Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026;16(6s): 551-561; DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.6s.80
Source of support: None
Conflict of interest: None