The Development of Medical Shampoo with a Plant-Based Substance for the Treatment of Seborrheic Dermatitis

Abstract

Dermatological diseases of the scalp such as seborrheic dermatitis (SD) significantly affect the quality of life of a population. Medical shampoos with synthetic substances have adverse effects that can be alleviated by use of medical shampoos with plant-based substances. Therefore, the aim of this research was to develop a natural medical shampoo with a plant-based substance that is effective for the treatment of SD. The natural-based surfactants helped to achieve proper characteristics and pH-stability. The medical shampoo formulation with the novel substance, made from Melaleuca alternifolia leaf oil, 1,8-cineole and (-)-α-bisabolol, at a concentration of 0.75% exhibited high antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus with log10CFU reduction >1.0. Interestingly, the antifungal activity against Candida albicans (a model host of Malassezia species) was comparable to that of ketoconazole, climbazole and piroctone olamine when using the broth microdilution method. The shampoo formulation with a combination of natural-based surfactants possessed the optimal characteristics, such as physical appearance, pH-stability and density foam stability. Therefore, the developed natural-based medical shampoo with a substance of plant origin could be used for the prophylaxis and alleviation of SD.

Keywords

• seborrheic dermatitis
• dandruff
• medical shampoo
• antimicrobial activity
• phytochemicals
• surfactants