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Journal of Thai Traditional & Alternative Medicine Vol. 6 No. 2 May-August (Supplement) 2008 ÒÛÛ

PO-31

Performance test of gel containing extracts from Thai Lanna medicinal

plants entrapped in niosomes for hair loss treatment

1,2 1 1,2
Jiradej Manosroi , Narinthorn Khositsuntiwong , Aranya Manosroi
1
Faculty of Pharmacy, Chiang Mai University, Thailand
2
Natural Products Research and Development Center (NPRDC), Institute for Science and Technology Research and Development,
Chiang Mai University, Thailand
E-mail:pmpti006@chiangmai.ac.th

Rationale: Many Thai Lanna medicinal plants have been reported to increase hair growth and reduce hair loss.
The mechanisms of these plants are mainly to increase the blood circulation, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-

oxidation of the hair roots. However, the extracts of these plants are usually not stable and are difficult to be
absorbed through hair follicles. Nanovesicles can be applied to solve this problem. Besides the activity test in vitro
and animals, the performance test in human volunteers are also needed to confirm these increased hair growth and

decreased hair loss activities of the products developed from these plants.
Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy in human volunteers of gel containing the Thai

Lanna medicinal plant extracts entrapped in niosomes for hair loss treatment.

Method: The hair gel containing the Thai Lanna plant extracts, such as ginger, turmeric, chili, and Tong-Pan-
Chang extracts, entrapped in niosomes was prepared and tested in 20 human volunteers. The volunteers were 9
males and 11 females. The hair gel was applied daily on the scalp of the volunteers for 8 weeks and then stopped
the application for 4 weeks. The hair density and numbers of falling hair collected by the volunteers were evaluated

every week. A picture of the treated area was taken weekly and the numbers of hair was counted from the picture,
as well as from the falling hair after taking a bath collected by the volunteers. The hair density was determined
in comparison with the regional scalp hair-density scale (level 0-6).

Results: A significant increase in hair density and a decrease in hair loss without any irritation in all subjects from
the 8-week application (p<0.01) were observed in non-heredity alopecia volunteers, with non-differences in male

and female volunteers. The percentages of subjects who were satisfied with the non-sticky touch, the color and
odor of the gel were 40%, 30% and 40%, respectively. After discontinuation, the hair density decreased and the
hair loss increased, but not significant.

Conclusion: The gel containing extracts from Thai Lanna medicinal plants entrapped in niosomes showed a
significant increase in hair density and a decrease in hair loss in non-heredity alopecia volunteers after 8-week

application. This study has demonstrated the potential of Thai Lanna medicinal plants with the nanotechnology
application for anti-hair loss.