title: Exploration of nutraceutical potential of herbal oil formulated from parasitic plant.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cuscuta reflexa (C. reflexa) is a parasitic climber of medicinal importance. The present study was aimed to evaluate the nutraceutical potential of C. reflexa stems collected from different hosts and to evaluate the role of the herbal formulation in dandruff, hair fall control as well as hair growth promoter.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hair formulations of C. reflexa collected from different host plants were prepared in the form of herbal oils (10% w/v). C. reflexa stems were extracted using mustard oil as base oil by using direct boiling technique. Prepared oil was studied as hair tonic. The experimental protocols used were anti-dandruff hair growth activity, as well as hair fall reduction. Herbal hair oils versus mustard oil were evaluated by applying oils on human volunteers with hair fall and dandruff problem whereas promotion of hair growth activity was conducted on rats. The formulated oils were also characterised for proximate analysis, physiochemical composition, as well as antimicrobial activity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The test oils of C. reflexa collected from Azadiracta indica and Zizyphus jujuba were effective in the promotion of hair growth, dandruff control, as well as reduction in hair fall activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All the formulated oils showed potent antimicrobial activity against all selected strains of bacteria and fungi.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Government College University, Faisalabad. 38000, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Fozia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Anjum
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Government College University, Faisalabad. 38000, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Shazia Anwer
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Bukhari
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad. 38040, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shahid
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Government College University, Faisalabad. 38000, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Tanveer Hussain
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Bokhari
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur, Sindh, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Mir Munsif Ali
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Talpur
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000505:Alopecia; D000818:Animals; D034182:Cuscuta; D063807:Dandruff / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009149:Mustard Plant; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010938:Plant Oils; D018547:Plant Stems; D051381:Rats; D055815:Young Adult; D031957:Ziziphus
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D010938:Plant Oils; C027793:mustard oil
keywords: Combing assay; Cuscuta reflexa; Dandruff; Hair fall; Hair growth activity; Herbal hair oil; host plants