Screening of antimicrobial efficacy of traditionally used Indian plants against microorganisms associated with dandruff

Abstract

Dandruff is a clinical condition affecting the scalp causing itching and relapsing inflammation. Staphylococcus epidermidis, Propionibacterium acne and Malassezia furfur pathogens are found more and less respectively in the scalps of dandruff subjects. In the present study, a total of 32 plant extracts were screened for their anti-dandruff activity by agar well diffusion method. Among the selected plant extracts of methanol and ethyl acetate, 25 showed significant activity while 7 extracts have not showed activity at a particular concentration. Among all the extracts ethylacetate extract of Cinnamomum zeylanicum and Glycyrrhiza glabra showed very high activity i.e. 18-20 mm while methanolic extract of Punica granatum and Syzygium aromaticum showed moderate activity against all the three pathogens. Thus the active plant extracts can be a potential source for the formulation of natural anti-dandruff agents.