IN VITRO EVALUATION OF ANVAYA AYURVEDA'S ANTI-DANDRUFF HAIROIL AGAINST M. FURFUR AND C. ALBICANS BY MINIMUM INHIBITORY CONCENTRATION METHOD

Dandruff is a common scalp disorder strongly associated with the overgrowth of lipophilic yeasts, particularly Malassezia furfur, and opportunistic fungi such as Candida albicans. Inhibition of these microorganisms remains a key strategy in the management of dandruff and related seborrheic scalp conditions. The present study aimed to evaluate the in-vitro anti-dandruff activity of Anvaya Ayurveda’s Anti-Dandruff Hair Oil by determining its minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against M. furfur and C. albicans. M. furfur was cultured on RPMI-A medium and incubated at 25 °C for 72h, while C. albicans was grown on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar and incubated at 25 °C for 48h. The anti-dandruff hair oil was evaluated in its undiluted form and across serial dilutions, with ketoconazole (0.1% w/v) serving as the reference standard. Antifungal activity was assessed using a resazurin-based microdilution assay to determine MIC values. The formulation demonstrated antifungal activity against both test organisms over concentrations ranging from 100% to 0.0488%. Growth inhibition of M. furfur was observed at a minimum concentration of 25%, indicating retained activity upon dilution, whereas inhibition of C. albicans was observed at the highest tested concentration. These findings demonstrate that Anvaya Ayurveda’s Anti-Dandruff Hair Oil exhibits in-vitro antifungal activity, particularly against M. furfur, the primary dandruff-associated pathogen. The in-vitro results were complemented by a human volunteer survey, in which individuals with dandruff-prone scalps reported reductions in dandruff severity, scalp flaking, and itching, along with improved scalp comfort following regular use. Collectively, these preliminary findings support the potential of the formulation as a safer and more sustainable approach to dandruff management.