PROSPECT OF HERBS AS HAIR GROWTH POTENTIAL
Herbal medicine is still the mainstay of about 70-80% of the world Population mainly in the developing countries for Primary Health Care because better cultural acceptability better, compatibility with the human body and lesser medicine or only palliative therapy is available. Even in this era of antibiotics, radiotherapy and strict drug laws, a very large number of herbal products are consumed and marketed throughout the world as health nutrients, food supplements and curing agents for disease control. It has been observed that number of herbs and their extract are used for hair growth activities some are described as follow: Petroleum ether extract of aerial parts of Tridax procumbens showed luxurious growth of hair in albino rats. 70% ethanolic extract of leaves of Ginko biloba was shown to be effective for hair growth activity. Methanolic extract of Potyporus umbellatus has shown excellent hair growth activity in rats. Combined extract Emblica officinalis, Lawsonia inermis, Nardostachys jatamansi, Cyperus rotundus and Corchorus prevent the falling of hairs and enhancement of hair growth activity. Proanthocynidins from grape seeds promote proliferation of mouse hair follicle cell in vitro and convert hair cycle in vivo similar to Minoxidil 2% solution which is synthetic and has numbers of side effect. Herbal cosmetics are in vogue these days. Nowadays, people have become aware of using herbal cosmetics. Now a day’s cosmetology is a well-defined science based on experiences gathered over centuries. The safety and efficacy of natural herbs could not find any suitable match i.e. cannot be replaced by synthetics. There is once again revival of preference for natural products. KEYWORDS: Herbal Medicine, Herbal Cosmetics, Natural Herbs, Hair Growth Activity, Hair Cycle