Emulsion formulation assays based on natural substances stimulating the hair growth and evaluation of its biological activity

Abstract

Aim: This study aims to identify the physicochemical parameters for the stability of emulsions prepared with medicinal plant extracts (i); to study the optimum parameters contributing to the stabilization of emulsions used for hair care (ii); to determine the physicochemical and galenical conditions for better stable formulation and the reproducible to ensure a pharmaceutical use (iii) and finally to evaluate the capillary activity of the emulsions prepared in vivo on Cavia porcellus L. (iv). Methodology: To achieve the goal of this study, the water-oil emulsions prepared by the mixture of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. flowers extracts (1mg/g and 10mg/g), Cannabis sativa L. seeds oil (1mg/g and 10mg/g), Ricinus communis L. oil, Olea europaea crude oil, and beeswax. The prepared emulsions were tested in vivo on Cavia porcellus L. for 28 days following the protocols established in preliminary studies on cosmetic systems with natural extracts as well as those established for the evaluation of the antialopecic activity. Results: The water-oil emulsion, with a ratio of 4/6, a Hydrophilic/Lipophilic Balance [HLB] of 7, an average globule size of 2.57 ± 1,91μm made with Cannabis sativa L. seed oil (10mg/g), Ricinus communis L. oil, Olea europaea oil, extract of flowers of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. (10mg/g), and beeswax exhibited good stability as well as stimulating activity of capillary growth. Conclusion: The stability of a water-in-oil emulsion formulated with natural substances selected for this research depends on the hydrophilic/lipophilic balance, uniformity of the globules distribution in their average size as well as the hydrophilic/lipophilic ratio.