DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF A DUAL-ACTION HERBAL HAIR REMOVER GEL USING CYPERUS ROTUNDUS AND CASSIA AURICULATA EXTRACTS

Raslamol K.*, Sujith Sebastian, Veena K. R., Riswana M., Sanha E. V., Shahla Sherin S., Shamna K., Shanil T., Sreelakshmi D. R., Anaswara Vinu

Herbal cosmetics are increasingly preferred due to their safety, efficacy, and reduced side effects compared with synthetic formulations. The present study aimed to develop and evaluate a dual-action herbal hair remover gel using extracts of Cyperus rotundus rhizome and Cassia auriculata leaves. Volatile oil from Cyperus rotundus rhizomes was obtained by hydrodistillation, while Cassia auriculata leaves were extracted using Soxhlet extraction with methanol. The gel was formulated using Carbopol 940 as a gelling agent along with propylene glycol, polysorbate 80, triethanolamine, formic acid, and citric acid.Phytochemical screening of the extracts revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, glycosides, phenols, proteins, and carbohydrates. Six formulations (HR1–HR6) were prepared and evaluated for physicochemical parameters such as appearance, pH, homogeneity, transparency, and viscosity. The formulations showed satisfactory characteristics with pH ranging from 5.1–5.7, indicating suitability for topical application. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was performed to identify functional groups and assess compatibility between plant extracts and excipients. The FTIR spectrum showed characteristic peaks corresponding to hydroxyl, aromatic, and ether functional groups, confirming the presence of phytoconstituents without significant interaction within the formulation. Antimicrobial activity of the optimized formulation was evaluated using the agar well diffusion method against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans. The formulation exhibited moderate antimicrobial activity with measurable zones of inhibition. The developed herbal hair remover gel demonstrated suitable physicochemical properties, antimicrobial potential, and formulation stability, suggesting its potential as a safe and effective alternative to conventional chemical depilatory products.