Abstract:
The hair growth promoting activity of Moringa oleifera leaf extract formulated as an ethosome (MOE) had been investigated. The skin irritation test evaluated in terms of erythema and edema. Five groups of five rats each evaluated for the hair growth activity: Groups 1 and 2 treated with minoxidil and placebo ethosome while groups 3, 4 and 5 treated with ethosome containing 1, 2 and 5 % w/v MO leaf extract respectively for 30 days. The effects of MO ethosome on hair length, growth pattern and growth phase characteristics were evaluated. No erythema or oedema appeared on the skin of the rats when MO ethosome was liberally applied. The hair growth activity of MO ethosome showed concentration dependent activity. The hair growth initiation time, hair length and hair growth completion time of MO ethosomes showed concentration dependent activity. The activities of the 5% MO ethosome were comparable to minoxidil solution and remarkably higher than that of the placebo ethosome. The group treated with 5% MO ethosome showed more follicles in the anagen phase than either the minoxidil or the placebo groups after 30 days of treatment. The MO ethosome thus, showed a safe, hair growth promotion activity.
