Caesalpiniaceae

Background: The rise in resistance to synthetic antimicrobial agents has encouraged interest in herbal formulations. Cassia alata Linn. (Caesalpiniaceae), commonly known as the candle bush, is traditionally used for treating skin infections due to its rich phytochemical constituents. This study focuses on formulating an herbal shampoo using Cassia alata leaf extract and evaluating its antimicrobial activities against selected bacterial and fungal pathogens. Objectives: To formulate the leaf extract of Cassia alata into a shampoo and investigate its antimicrobial profiles. Methods: Standard procedures were followed to evaluate the presence of phytochemicals. The methanol extract was incorporated into a shampoo base prepared using stearic acid, sodium hydroxide, lanolin, sodium lauryl sulfate and additives. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated by the agar well diffusion method against the following test organisms (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus
aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella aerogenes, Aspergillus niger, and Candida albicans) at extract concentrations of 100-500 mg/ml. Zones of inhibition were compared with ciprofloxacin (bacterial control) and Ketoconazole (fungal control). Results: The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of Anthraquinones, Saponins, Tannins and Alkaloids. The shampoo formulation was clear, exhibiting good foam formation, with no signs of phase separation, indicative of its stability. There was no skin irritation. The formulated herbal shampoo, containing the leaf extract of C. alata showed marked reduced antimicrobial activity at 500 mg/ml when compared to the standard antimicrobial agents. Conclusion: Cassia alata herbal shampoo formulation has shown promising prospect as a potent source of phytonutrients and can be used in managing microbial activities of the skin.