Preclinical studies of a novel polyherbal phyto–complex hair growth promoting cream

The present research is envisaged on the preclinical studies of a polyherbal phyto–complex hair growth promoting cream incorporated with aqueous extracts of Trichosanthes cucumerina (T. cucumerina) Linn and Abrus precatorius (A. precatoius) Linn on enhancing the hair growth. Leaves of T. cucumerina and A. precatoius were separately extracted with distilled water and then subjected to preliminary chemical test. It was then made into a phyto–complex and finally formulated into a hair cream. The various evaluation parameters like organoleptic characters, presence of foreign particles/grittiness, determination of pH, irritancy, partition coefficient, drug content, diffusion studies, stability studies, sterility test, SEM, FT-IR, solubility and hair growth promoting activity were performed. Microscopic view of phyto–complex showed micelle structure. The formulated phyto–complex hair growth promoting cream had a smooth consistency with slightly acidic pH. FT-IR studies showed that the phytoconstituents were compatible with the excipients used. SEM studies revealed binding nature of the complex. The cream was found to be stable as the globule size, and was not altered on storage. Sterility testing proved the formulation to be free from microbial attack. The preclinical studies showed that the formulated 2% polyherbal phyto–complex hair growth promoting cream was an effective hair growth promoter as the results were analogous to that of minoxidil 2%. It was observed that percentage of hair follicles in the anagen phase increased considerably which predicts that the formulation can be used in alopecia. As the 2% polyherbal phyto–complex hair cream did not show any kind of irritancy or toxicity to the test animals it can be suggested that the prepared cream can be a better alternative for synthetic hair growth promoters.