ARNICA HYDROGEL: AN OIL REPLACEMENT FOR HAIR LOSS TREATMENT

Abstract

Hair loss problems can affect physical and mental health of human and have particular significance during pregnancy, lactation and aging process. At present a number of oils and shampoos are available in the market to promote hair growth. Applying the medicated hair oils and shampooing the hairs daily reduces the patient compliance. Thus no therapy is giving satisfactory results to the hair loss. Aim of this work is to prepare non sticky, non greasy, quickly absorbable Arnica Hydrogel to stimulate hair. Arnica montana is widely used herbal and homeopathic medicine for hair growth stimulation and available as arnica oil and arnica shampoo. It rejuvenate scalp, stimulates the hair follicles by improving the blood flow and prevent premature hair fall. Arnica montana also have anti-inflammatory and anti dandruff properties which assist its hair growth property. Hydrogel have been emerged out as one of the most beneficial topical drug delivery system. It is three-dimensional cross-linked polymer network. Hydrophilic structure of which make them capable of holding the drug and water in its three dimentional network. These biomaterials can hold large quantity of water and swell. When swelled, they become soft & spongy and exhibit excellent biocompatibility. Arnica Hydrogel was prepared by incorporating ethanolic extract of Arnica montana in hydrogel at a particular step in order to prepare non greasy formulation. Hydrogel was optimized for the concentration of Carbopol 934. Different Hydrogel formulations were evaluated for their physical appearance, viscosity, pH, spreadability and stability.