Formulation and Assessment of a Ricinus communis Leaf Extract-Based Shampoo for the Treatment of Tinea capitis

Abstract

Tinea capitis, a dermatophytic fungal infection affecting the scalp, represents a significant global public health concern, with particular  prominence in regions characterized by limited economic resources. Unlike antibacterial medications, the options for antimicrobial  treatments targeting fungal infections are relatively scarce. Furthermore, several of the existing antifungal compounds have been shown  to be hazardous, chemically unstable and have poor pharmacologic properties. Therefore, it is imperative to explore alternative therapeutic avenues, particularly those derived from traditional medicinal practices and herbal compounds that have demonstrated  antifungal efficacy in laboratory settings. This study aimed to formulate and evaluate a shampoo containing Ricinus communis leaf extract  as an adjunctive therapy for Tinea capitis using a laboratory-based experimental design. Ricinus communis leaves were harvested  from Kabarak University botanical gardens, dried and ground into coarse powder, followed by Soxhlet extraction with methanol. The extract was concentrated to dryness and used in formulation of a shampoo. The shampoo was evaluated for color intensity, clarity,  fluidity, ability to produce foam, homogeneity and odor. The in vitro antifungal activity on fungal isolate of Microsporum canis species  that cause Tinea capitis was performed to demonstrate the inhibitory effects of the prepared shampoo and the methanolic extract at  100%, 50% and 25% concentrations. Ketoconazole 2% shampoo was used as a positive control. The quantitative bioassay was performed  using disk diffusion method. The results showed that the methanol extract and the formulated shampoo have inhibitory effect against    Microsporum canis. There was no statistical difference in zone of inhibition caused by the formulated shampoo with that caused by 2%  ketoconazole shampoo (P-value = 0.59957; P-value > 0.05). Therefore, the prepared shampoo demonstrated remarkable antifungal  activity against the Microsporum canis sample that is comparable to 2% ketoconazole shampoo highlighting its significance as an adjuvant  therapeutic alternative for the treatment of Tinea capitis