Evaluation of Anti-Microbial Activities and Formulation of Anti-Dandruff Herbal Shampoo from <i>Datura stramonium</i> Leaf Extract

Abstract

Objective Datura stramonium is a traditional medicinal plant recognized for treating skin ailments, and interest has been garnered in its potential bioactive compounds. The current study aimed to investigate the phytochemical profile and in vitro antimicrobial properties of D. stramonium for anti-dandruff shampoo preparation. Methods In this study, maceration of 830 g of powdered leaves with 2.5 L of methanol yielded 290.6 g of crude extract. Phytochemical screening identified the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, amino acids, steroids, saponins, glycosides, terpenoids, phenolic flavonoids, and phenols. In vitro, the antimicrobial activity of this extract against [Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Malassezia furfur] was assessed using disc-diffusion methods. Results This Plant extract exhibited strong anti-microbial activity against P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, E. coli, and Malassezia fungi, with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 62.5 mg/ml. This extract was used to formulate an anti-microbial D. stramonium herbal shampoo. The resulting shampoo (brown color, good odor, pH 6.0) showed superior inhibition of the test microorganisms compared to ketoconazole anti-Malassezia shampoo and gentamicin anti-bacterial drugs. It also exhibited 25.5% solid content, good foaming ability and stability, and no dirt dispersion. Conclusion These results suggest that the D. stramonium-based herbal shampoo is an effective and safe topical antimicrobial product.