Studies on the antidandruff activity of the essential oil of coleus amboinicus and eucalyptus globulus

To determine the effect of the essential oil of Coleus amboinicus and Eucalyptus globules as potential antidandruff agent. Fresh leaves of Coleus amboinicus and Eucalyptus globules were collected from the Horticultural Research Station, Yercaud, Salem, Tamil Nadu, India. The collected leaves were washed thoroughly and shade dried for 7-10 days. The essential oils from both the dried plant leaves were obtained by hydro distillation procedure. The chemical compositions of hydro distilled essential oils were analyzed by Gas Chromatography-Mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The pure essential oils and the essential oils diluted with coconut oil of the two plants were used to check antidandruff activity against the dandruff causing fungus Malassezia furfur by agar well diffusion assay. The average yield of essential oil from Coleus amboinicus (0.89%) and Eucalyptus globules (0.77%). The results of GC-MS revealed that the presence of eight compounds from Coleus amboinicus essential oil and five constituents from Eucalyptus globules representing 90.45% and 96.32% of the total oil respectively. The major component was identified as Thymol (phenolic rich compocnd) (41.3%) in Coleus amboinicus and in Eucalyptus globules the major constituents was 1-8, Cineol (91.61%). In the antidandruff activity the broad range of inhibitory zone was observed in Eucalyptus globules (37mm) oil compare to Coleus amboinicus (31mm). Ketaconazole based shampoo used as a standard. This study would direct to the establishment of a natural compound from Coleus amboinicus and Eucalyptus globules as an antidandruff agent which can be used for the production of potential antifungal drug and novel pharmaceutical and cosmeceutical leads.