Formulation and Evaluation of Antifungal Activity of Anti-Dandruff Gel Shampoo with Lemongrass Oil (Cymbopogon citratus)

The study formulated and evaluated the antifungal activity of an anti-dandruff gel shampoo containing lemongrass oil (Cymbopogon citratus) at concentrations of 5%, 7.5%, and 10%. The lemongrass oil, containing α sitral and β sitral, demonstrated antifungal properties against Pityrosporum ovale, with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 5 mg/mL and a maximum inhibitory concentration of 100 mg/mL. The gel shampoo met all criteria for homogeneity, foaming ability, foam stability, pH, viscosity, and stability over 12 weeks at room temperature. The antifungal activity showed inhibition zone diameters of 17.30 mm, 18.76 mm, and 20.43 mm for the 5%, 7.5%, and 10% concentrations, respectively, with the 10% concentration being the most effective.