Comparative antidandruff efficacy of plant extracts prepared from conventional and supercritical fluid extraction method and chemical profiling using GCMS

Background: To combat dandruff associated pathogens, supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) can be used as an alternative eco-friendly technique to obtain antimicrobial plant extracts over conventional methods.Objectives: The purpose of the study was to compare the yield and antimicrobial potential of extracts obtained by different extraction methods.Methods: Extraction was carried out by cold percolation method using ethyl acetate (EA) and SFE using CO₂. Antimicrobial activity was studied against dandruff causing microbes; Malassezia furfur, Propionibacterium acne, and Staphylococcus epidermidis by agar well diffusion and micro broth dilution method. Statistical evaluation was done by principal component analysis (PCA).Results: The yield was found higher in the ethyl acetate extracts. PCA indicated that among the sixteen extracts, SFE extract of Azadirachta indica leaves was the most influential with the highest F1 score and maximum antimicrobial activity. Cinnamomum zeylanicum SFE extract demonstrated the lowest MIC against P. acne and M. furfur. GC-MS analysis of A. indica extract inferred that ganoderic acid, 13,14-epoxyoleanan-3-ol acetate, henicosanal, 2-heptadecycloxirane were the major phytoconstituents whereas cinnamaldehyde, α- muurolene and caffeic acid were primarily found in cinnamon.Conclusion: Bioactive compounds identified in the extracts of A. indica and C. zeylanicum can be used in natural antidandruff products.

Keywords: Anti-dandruff activity; Azadirachta indica; GC-MS; Supercritical fluid extraction.