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

Abstract

Dandruff is a clinical condition affecting the scalp, causes itching and relapsing inflammation. In the present study, a total of 32 plant extracts of 16 plants were prepared using methanol and ethyl acetate and screened for their anti-dandruff activity by agar well diffusion method. Dandruff causing microorganisms including Staphylococcus epidermidis, Propionibacterium acne and Malassezia furfur were selected for the study. Ethyl acetate extract of Cinnamomum zeylanicum and Glycyrrhiza glabra exhibited maximum activity with zone of inhibition of 18-20 mm while methanol extract of Punica granatum and Syzygium aromaticum demonstrated moderate activity against the studied microbes. On the basis of ZOI, PCA and MIC the results revealed that the ethyl acetate extract of C. zeylinicum bark and G. glabra root are most influential extracts followed by methanol extract of P. granatum, G. glabra, S. aromaticum, and ethyl acetate extract of A. nilotica in term of antimicrobial activity against the studied dandruff causing microbes. Therefore the active plant extracts can act as a potential source for the formulation of natural anti-dandruff agents.