RESEARCH ARTICLE Formulation and Evaluation of Synthetic

Anti-dandruff Shampoo

V. Sarovar Reddy, C. Gopinath

Department of Pharmaceutics, Annamacharya College of Pharmacy, Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh, India

Abstract

Aim: This study aims to formulate and evaluate synthetic anti-dandruff shampoo. Materials and Methods: The
anti-dandruff agents used in the present study are sulfur and benzoic acid. The other ingredients include sodium lauryl
sulfate (surfactant), urea (solubilizing agent), citric acid (sequestering agent), sodium ethylenediaminetetraacetic
acid (chelating agent), guar gum (foam stabilizing agent and thickening agent), tween 80, and distilled water
(vehicle). All ingredients were purchased from SD fine chemicals, boisar. Results and Discussions: The prepared
anti-dandruff shampoo was evaluated for physical appearance/visual inspection, determination if pH, determine
% of solid contents, rheological evaluation, surface tension measurement, foam ability, and antimicrobial activity.
The pH range was 6.1–6.7, physical appearance was pale yellow, the percentage of solid contents ranges from
26.9 to 28.1%, viscosity was in the range of 1289–1712, surface tension was found to be 31.08–34.12, and foam
volume ranges from 144 to 178. The antimicrobial activity was done using Staphylococcus aureus, and the zone
of inhibition was observed using 1% solution of sulfur, salicylic acid, and benzoic acid in the ratio of 0.75:2:0.25,
which has shown 3.4 mm inhibitory action.Conclusion: Study indicates zone of inhibition for F1 obtained was
best compared to other formulations against S. aureus after incubating for 24 h. It may have fair anti-dandruff
activity efficiency.

Key words: Anti-dandruff shampoo, Pityrosporum ovale, salicylic acid and benzoic acid, sulfur

INTRODUCTION dandruff mainly include itching, flakes, and redness of scalp.

Dandruff can be treated in two ways, using herbal-based anti-
Dandruff represents one of the most common dandruff shampoo and using chemical-based anti-dandruff
dermatological skin conditions and is a chronic, shampoo. A shampoo is a preparation containing surfactant
non-inflammatory condition of the scalp that (i.e., surface active material) in a suitable form – liquid,
is characterized by excessive scaling of scalp solid, or powder – which when used under the specified
tissue. Various antifungal agents are employed conditions will remove surface grease, dirt, and skin debris
in hair care preparations for the treatment of from the hair shaft and scalp without adversely affecting the
dandruff. These products show many side user. Most shampoos contain water, a detergent (cleaning
effects such as loss of hair, increased scaling, agent), surfactant (lather making agent), salt, fragrance
itching, irritation, nausea, and headache. Hence, (natural and artificial), preservative, and food coloring. With
an attempt was made to formulate synthetic anti- the exception of water and salt (sodium chloride), different
dandruff shampoo which is effective in terms chemical compounds are used depending on the desired
of safety and treating the dandruff condition. result of the shampoo. Many shampoos also contain vitamins
Dandruff is apparently caused by a fungus called
Malassezia restricta and Malassezia globosa.
Malassezia formerly called Pityrosporum is a Address for correspondence:
yeast causing infection of skin and scalp. It often V. Sarovar Reddy, Department of Pharmaceutics,
causes itching. Warm and humid atmosphere, Annamacharya College of Pharmacy, New Boyanapalli,
overcrowding, and poor personal hygiene are Rajampet, Kadapa – 516126, Andhra Pradesh, India.
ideally suited for the growth of Malassezia. Phone: +91-9493035229. E-mail: sarovar.ancp@gmail.
Dandruff affects 5% of the population and com
mostly occurs after puberty, between 20 and
30 years and dandruff affects males more than Received: 05-01-2018
females. Dandruff occurs exclusively on skin in Revised: 12-01-2018
areas with high levels of sebum. Symptoms of Accepted: 16-01-2018

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 Reddy and Gopinath: Formulation and evaluation of anti-dandruff shampoo

and moisturizing alcohols to prevent too much of the hair Evaluation of prepared anti-dandruffSS shampoo
and scalp’s natural oils from being stripped away during
cleansing.[1-4] Physical appearance/visual inspection
The formulations prepared were evaluated in terms of their
Composition of Shampoos clarity, foam producing ability, and fluidity.[5,6]

The following are the ingredients used for the preparation Determination of pH
of shampoos. They include three anti-dandruff agents such The pH of 10% shampoo solution in distilled water was
as sulfur, salicylic acid and benzoic acid, sodium lauryl determined at room temperature 25°C.[7,8]
sulfate as surfactant, urea as solubilizing agent, citric acid as
sequestering agent, sodium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid Determine percent of solid contents
(EDTA) as chelating agent, guar gum as foam stabilizing
agent and thickening agent, tween 80, and distilled water as A clean dry evaporating dish was weighed and added 4 g of
vehicle. shampoo to the evaporating dish. The dish and shampoo was
weighed. The exact weight of the shampoo was calculated
(only solids) and evaporating dish with shampoo was placed
on hot plate until the liquid portion was evaporated. The weight
MATERIALS AND METHODS
of the shampoo (only solids) after drying was calculated.
The anti-dandruff agents used in present study are sulfur and
benzoic acid. The other ingredients include sodium lauryl Rheological evaluation
sulfate (surfactant), urea (solubilizing agent), citric acid
(sequestering agent), sodium EDTA (chelating agent), guar The viscosity of the shampoos was determined using
gum (foam stabilizing agent and thickening agent), tween 80, Brookfield viscometer by setting different spindle speeds
and distilled water (vehicle). All ingredients were purchased from 0.3 to 10 rpm. The viscosity of the shampoos was
from SD fine chemicals, boisar. measured using spindle T95. The temperature and sample
container’s size was kept constant during the study.
Preparation of anti-dandruff shampoo
Surface tension measurement
The anti-dandruff shampoo was formulated using simple
mixing process. Formulations were made using two anti- Measurements were carried out with a 10% shampoo
dandruff agents such as sulfur and benzoic acid. The other dilution in distilled water at room temperature. Thoroughly
ingredients used are sodium lauryl sulfate as surfactant, clean the stalagmometer using chromic acid and purified
urea as solubilizing agent, citric acid as sequestering agent, water. Because surface tension is highly affected with grease
sodium ethylene diamine ethylene diamine tetra acetic or other lubricants.[9,10] The data calculated by following
acid acid as chelating agent, guar gum as foam stabilizing equation given below:
agent and thickening agent, tween 80, and distilled water as
vehicle [Table 1]. R2= (W3-W1)n1/(W2-W1)n2 × R1

Table 1: Composition of synthetic anti‑dandruff shampoo

Ingredients F1 (g) F2 (g) F3 (g) F4 (g) F5 (g) F6 (g) F7 (g) F8 (g)
Sulfur 0.75 0.75 0.75 0.75 0.75 0.75 0.75 0.75
Salicylic acid 0.25 0.5 0.75 1 1.25 1.5 1.75 2
Benzoic acid 2 1.75 1.5 1.25 1 0.75 0.5 0.25
Sodium lauryl 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22
Sulfate
Urea 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Citric acid 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6
Sodium EDTA 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5
Guar gum 1.75 1.75 1.75 1.75 1.75 1.75 1.75 1.75
Tween‑80 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5
Distilled water Up to Up to Up to Up to Up to Up to Up to Up to
100 ml 100 ml 100 ml 100 ml 100 ml 100 ml 100 ml 100 ml
EDTA: Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid

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 Reddy and Gopinath: Formulation and evaluation of anti-dandruff shampoo

Foaming ability and foam stability

Cylinder shake method was used for determining foaming

ability. 50 ml of 1% shampoo solution was put into a 250 ml
graduated cylinder and is shaken for 10 times. The total
volumes of foam contents after 1 min shaking were recorded.
The foam value was calculated immediately after shaking the
volume of foam at 1 min intervals for 4 min was recorded.[11,12]

Antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus

aureus

The prepared anti-dandruff shampoo formulations F1 to F8

were subjected to antimicrobial activity by cup-plate method
Figure 1: Different formulations of anti-dandruff shampoo using the agar medium. 1% anti-dandruff shampoo was used
to study this antimicrobial activity. The Petri plates were then
sealed using Parafilm and incubated at 37°C for 24 h. The
zone of inhibition was observed successfully for formulation
F4 than other formulations.[12]

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

The aim of the present work is to prepare anti-dandruff

shampoo using three anti-dandruff agents such as benzoic
acid, salicylic acid, and sulfur by various combinations.

The prepared anti-dandruff shampoo was evaluated for

physical appearance/visual inspection, determination if pH,
determine % of solid contents, rheological evaluation, surface
tension measurement, foamability, and antimicrobial activity.
Figure 2: Brookfield viscometer

Physical appearance/visual inspection

The formulations prepared were appeared pale yellow color.

Determination of pH

The pH of 10% shampoo solution in distilled water was

determined at room temperature 25°c and the range of pH
was found to be 6.1–6.7 [Table 2].

Determine percent of solid contents

Figure 3: Antimicrobial activity of synthetic anti-dandruff The weight of the shampoo (only solids) after drying was
shampoo
calculated for all the formulations and the range was found to
be 26.9–28.1% [Table 2].
Where, W1 is weight of empty beaker.
W2 is weight of beaker with distilled water.
Rheological evaluation
W3 is weight of beaker with shampoo solution.
n1 is number of drops of distilled water. The viscosity of the shampoo was determined using
n2 is number of drops of shampoo solution. Brookfield Viscometer by setting different spindle speeds
R1 is surface tension of distilled water at room temperature. from 0.3 to 10 rpm and the range of cps obtained was 1289–
R2 is surface tension of shampoo solution. 1712 [Table 3].

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 Reddy and Gopinath: Formulation and evaluation of anti-dandruff shampoo

Surface tension measurement Antimicrobial activity against S. aureus

Measurements were carried out with a 10% shampoo dilution The prepared anti-dandruff shampoo formulations F1 to
in distilled water at room temperature and the range was F8 were subjected to antimicrobial activity using cup-plate
found to be 31.08–34.12 [Table 3]. method using agar medium. 1% antidandruff shampoo
was used to study this antimicrobial activity. The zone of
Foaming ability inhibition was observed successfully for formulation F1 than
other formulations [Table 4].
Cylinder shake method was used for determining foaming
ability. 50 ml of 1% shampoo solution was put into a 250 ml
graduated cylinder and covered the cylinder with hand and CONCLUSION
shaken for 10 times and the range of values obtained was
found to be 144–178 [Table 3]. In the present work, efforts have been made to prepare and evaluate
anti-dandruff shampoo using three anti-dandruff agents such as
Table 2: Evaluation of formulation for physical benzoic acid, salicylic acid, and sulfur by various combinations.
appearance, pH, and solids Zone of inhibition for F1 obtained was best compared to other
formulations against S. aureus after incubating for 24 h. It may
Formulation Physical appearance Ph Solids (%)
have fair anti-dandruff activity efficiency. Hence, the formulation
F1 Pale yellow 6.5 27.9
F1 has met the objectives.
F2 Pale yellow 6.3 27.3
F3 Pale yellow 6.1 27.5
F4 Pale yellow 6.5 28.1 ACKNOWLEDGMENT
F5 Pale yellow 6.6 26.9
F6 Pale yellow 6.7 28.0 The authors are thankful to secretary Shri. C. Gangi Reddy
through Principal of Annamacharya college of Pharmacy,
F7 Pale yellow 6.5 27.6
Rajampet, Andhra Pradesh, for providing necessary facilities
F8 Pale yellow 6.4 27.8 to carry out this research work.

Table 3: Evaluation of formulation for viscosity, surface tension, and foamability

Formulation Viscosity (cps) Surface tension (dynes/cm) Foam volume (ml)
F1 1618 33.2 178
F2 1712 31.8 154
F3 1309 34.12 151
F4 1415 33.09 161
F5 1328 31.08 152
F6 1611 32.12 147
F7 1289 33.11 144
F8 1296 31.98 148

Table 4: Evaluation of formulations for zone of inhibition

Formulation Concentration (g) Zone of inhibition (mm)
Sulfur Benzoic acid Salicylic acid Staphylococcus aureus
F1 0.75 2 0.25 3.4
F2 0.75 1.75 0.5 2.85
F3 0.75 1.5 0.75 2.60
F4 0.75 1.25 1 2.75
F5 0.75 1 1.25 2.80
F6 0.75 0.75 1.5 2.7
F7 0.75 0.5 1.75 2.6
F8 0.75 0.25 2 2.7

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