Background: Growing safety concerns around synthetic surfactants such as sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) and parabens in commercial shampoos have created demand for herbal alternatives. Plant-derived saponins offer mild, effective cleansing without the irritation associated with synthetic surfactants. Objective: To prepare and evaluate a polyherbal shampoo using six Ayurvedic ingredients — Shikakai (Acacia concinna), Amla (Emblica officinalis), Neem (Azadirachta indica), Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), Reetha (Sapindus mukorossi), and Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) — and assess its suitability as a safer alternative to synthetic shampoos. Materials and Methods: Two batches were prepared: F1 (40 ml trial) and F2 (200 ml optimised) using hot aqueous extraction at 60–70°C for 30–40 minutes. Evaluation included physical appearance, pH, viscosity (Brookfield LMDV-60, Spindle SPL4, 60 RPM), spreadability, foaming ability and stability, dirt dispersion, washability, three-month stability study (25 ± 2°C / 60% RH), skin irritation (semi-occlusive Draize patch test, n = 10), and antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans by agar well diffusion. Results: The formulated shampoo showed pH 5.756 ± 0.015 (F1) and 5.750 ± 0.010 (F2), within the physiological scalp range of 4.5–6.5. Viscosity was 1815.7 ± 0.26 mPa·s (F1) and 1820.1 ± 0.40 mPa·s (F2). Foam stability was 83.9% (F1) and 84.6% (F2). The product was stable over three months with no change in colour, odour, consistency, or microbial status. No skin irritation was observed in any volunteer (Draize score 0/4). Zones of inhibition of 12 mm (S. aureus) and 10 mm (C. albicans) were recorded. Conclusion: The developed polyherbal shampoo is physicochemically stable, non-irritating, and shows useful antimicrobial activity. It may serve as a safer herbal alternative to synthetic shampoos for regular hair care.
Publication Date: 2026-06-14