Composition and Evaluation of a Medicinal Herbal Shampoo Based on Ziziphus spina-christi, Olive Oil, and Potassium Hydroxide
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47134/phms.v3i2.577Keywords:
Herbal shampoo, Ziziphus spina-christi, KOH, soap shampoo, Natural hairAbstract
This study aimed to formulate and evaluate a medicinal herbal shampoo based on Ziziphus spina-christi leaves, olive oil, and potassium hydroxide (KOH). Z. spina-christi is rich in saponins, providing natural cleansing, anti-dandruff, and soothing effects, while olive oil contributes hydration and protection for hair. KOH was used to saponify the oil, producing a mild liquid potassium soap suitable for scalp application.The optimized formulation contained 15% olive oil, stoichiometrically calculated KOH, and 3% finely powdered Z. spina-christi extract, diluted with distilled water. Natural preservatives were included to enhance stability, and the pH was adjusted to 6.0, ensuring optimal scalp compatibility.Evaluation included physicochemical characterization (pH, viscosity, appearance), microbial stability (total microbial count over 1–3 months), and dermatological safety (patch test). Preliminary anti-dandruff efficacy was also assessed. The shampoo demonstrated mild cleansing, moderate foaming, moisturizing, and soothing properties, while remaining free from synthetic surfactants .
This work presents a scientifically validated herbal shampoo integrating traditional plant-based remedies with modern formulation principles, offering a safe, effective, and natural alternative for hair care. The findings support the potential of Z. spina-christi and olive oil as key ingredients in herbal medicated shampoos with enhanced anti-dandruff and hair-conditioning performance.
References
Albalawi, A. E. (2021). Antileishmanial activity of Ziziphus spina christi leaves extract and its possible cellular mechanisms. Microorganisms, 9(10), 2113. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9102113 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9102113
Ali, H. S., & Kadhim, R. B. (2011). Formulation and evaluation of herbal shampoo from Ziziphus spina leaves extract. International Journal of Research in Ayurveda and Pharmacy.
Al-Salhi, A. A., Al-Shatty, S. M., & Al-Imara, E. A. (2025). Production of Antibacterial from Poultry Manure and Ziziphus Spina-Christi Leaves. In IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science (Vol. 1549, No. 1, p. 012051). IOP Publishing. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1549/1/012051
Al-Snafi, A. E. (2018). Medicinal plants with dermatological and cosmetic effects: A review. International Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, 10(2), 1–9.
Alzomor, A. K. Y., Al Madhagi, W. M., Sallam, N. M., Mojamel, H., Alawar, M. M., & Al Hetari, A. G. (2021). Subacute toxicity study and clinical trials for Ziziphus spina christi leaves extract as an anti-dandruff shampoo. The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 45(2), 126–136. https://doi.org/10.56808/3027-7922.2482 DOI: https://doi.org/10.56808/3027-7922.2482
Bakr, R. O., Amer, R. I., Fayed, M. A. A., & Ragab, T. I. (2019). A completely polyherbal conditioning and antioxidant shampoo: Phytochemical study and pharmaceutical evaluation. Journal of Pharmacy and Bioallied Sciences, 11(2), 105–115. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/JPBS.JPBS_214_18
Draelos, Z. D. (2018). The science behind skin care: Cleansers. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 17(1), 8–14. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocd.12465 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jocd.12469
Field, A. (2018). Discovering Statistics Using IBM SPSS Statistics (5th ed.). London: SAGE Publications.
Gazi, A. S. (2025). Herbal shampoo: A review. Journal of Pharmaceutical Research International, 37(2), 118–133. https://doi.org/10.9734/jpri/2025/v37i27661 DOI: https://doi.org/10.9734/jpri/2025/v37i27661
Ha, B. J., Lee, J. Y., Ha, S. J., & Kim, J. H. (2020). Evaluation of herbal shampoos containing plant-based surfactants. Journal of Cosmetic Science, 71(2), 89–98.
Haile, G. (2021). Production and characterization of herbal shampoo from Ziziphus spina christi L. (Master’s thesis). Addis Ababa University.
Kaur, G., Kumar, S., & Sharma, R. (2019). Formulation and evaluation of polyherbal shampoo for dandruff control. Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research, 12(5), 201–206.
Khushboo, Sharma, P., & Singh, R. (2014). Formulation, evaluation and comparison of herbal shampoos with commercial products. Beni Suef University Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences, 3(2), 56–63.
Kulkarni, C. T., Shirke, R. M., & Shinde, P. B. (2025). Development and evaluation of a natural anti dandruff shampoo using herbal extracts. International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research, 16(2), 502–509. https://doi.org/10.13040/IJPSR.0975 8232.16(2).502 509
Mysore, V., & Smith, E. (2022). Hair oils: Indigenous knowledge revisited. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 21(2), 623–629. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocd.14553 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jocd.14553
Naser, M. J., Alhafadhi, A. H., Ajil, A. S., Al-Salhi, A. A., & Al-Shatty, S. M. (2025). Manufacturing a multi-use natural cleaner and disinfectant from restaurant waste and chemically evaluating its efficiency. In IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science (Vol. 1549, No. 1, p. 012038). IOP Publishing.
Naser, M. J., Alhafadhi, A. H., Ajil, A. S., Al-Salhi, A. A., & Al-Shatty, S. M. (2025). Manufacturing a multi-use natural cleaner and disinfectant from restaurant waste and chemically evaluating its efficiency. In IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science (Vol. 1549, No. 1, p. 012038). IOP Publishing. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1549/1/012038
NDI Aromatics. (2016). Olive oil cosmetic uses & benefits for hair treatments & skin care. New Directions Aromatics.
Parveen, S., Sanwal, R., & Semwal, A. (2025). Formulation and evaluation of herbal shampoo enriched with Rosmarinus officinalis. Biology Journal. DOI: https://doi.org/10.33545/26649926.2025.v7.i6e.388
Patel, S., Gupta, A., & Gupta, M. (2025). Formulation and evaluation of polyherbal anti dandruff shampoo and its marketed comparison. Journal for Research in Applied Sciences and Biotechnology, 1(2), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.55544/jrasb.1.2.1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.55544/jrasb.1.2.1
Purnamawati, S., Indrastuti, N., Danarti, R., & Saefudin, T. (2017). The role of moisturizers in addressing various kinds of dermatitis: A review. Clinical Medicine & Research, 15(3–4), 75–87. https://doi.org/10.3121/cmr.2017.1363 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3121/cmr.2017.1363
Rai, S. (2021). Plant-derived saponins: A review of their surfactant properties and applications. Surfactants, 3(4), 44. https://doi.org/10.3390/surfactants3040044 DOI: https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202108.0152.v1
Ramesh, M. (2025). A brief review on preparation and evaluation of herbal shampoo. International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences.
Ramos, P. M., & Macías, D. S. (2025). Formulation and evaluation of polyherbal antidandruff shampoo with antimicrobial activity. ScienceDirect. (sciencedirect.com)
Sravanthi, K., Kavitha, N., Sowmya, S., Naazneen, V., & Anil, C. (2021). A review on formulation and evaluation of herbal anti dandruff shampoo. International Journal of Pharmaceutical Research and Applications, 6(3).
Vijaya, R. (2018). Evaluation of herbal shampoo formulations for scalp and hair health. International Journal of Herbal Medicine, 6(3), 45–52.
Waghole, V., Divekar, V., & Gawai, N. (2025). A review: Formulation and evaluation of herbal shampoo. International Journal of Research in Advanced Scientific Engineering and Technology (IJRASET). DOI: https://doi.org/10.22214/ijraset.2025.70274
Zhao, J., Wang, Y., & Liu, X. (2017). Dammarane-type saponins from leaves of Ziziphus spina christi. Phytochemistry, 135, 123–130.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Rakhaa S. Alnassralla, Noora B. Maizar, Ali .F. Al-Qaisi, Nada A.Alshemari, Aya H.Khader, Noor Alhuda S. Najem, Anfal S.Abdul Razzaq; Ahmed F. Alobaidi
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
