A PRESENTATION BY SURYA PRAJAPAT

HAIR- Personal care

HAIR GRAYING

Worried………??????

Its no late to work on retaining your hair’s natural colour with natural herbs.

Here presenting a research work on hair graying and the herbs useful to get rid of this problem.

HAIRS

Hair is a filamentous biomaterial that grows from follicles found in the

dermis.

Hair follicle - the part beneath the skin.

Hair bulb - the part when hair is pulled from the skin.

Hair follicle is located in the dermis and maintains stem cells -

responsible for regrowth of hair and skin.

HAIR

Hair shaft- the hard filamentous part that extends above skin surface. It has 3 layers-

Cutile – outer layer

Cortex- contains melanin pigment

and keratin protein.

Medulla- inner layer

Cortex contains melanin,

which colors the fibres based

on number, distribution

and types of melanin granules.

Cuticle is outer layer covered with single molecular layer of lipid. That’s why hair repel water.

Hair growth begins inside hair follicle

Other structures- Sabeceous gland & arrector pili muscles (responsible for hair erection, goose bumps)

HAIR PIGMENTS

All natural colours of hair are due to 2 types of hair pigments.

Melanin

Eumelanin Pheomelanin

Dominant pigment in- Dominant pigment in-

dark blond hair red hair

brown hair

black hair

Both these pigments are produced in hair follicle and packed into granules found in fibres.

HAIR

Gray hair occur when melanin production stops or decrease.

Shades of human hair colour are assessed by Fischer-Saller Scale. This

scale shows different grades as-

A – Light blond

B to E – blond

F to L – blond

M to O – dark brown

P to T – brown

U to Y – dark brown/ black

I to IV – red

V to VI – red blond

Fischer-Saller Scale

HAIR

Biochemistry of hair colour

As we discussed, 2 types of pigments are responsible for hair colour -

Eumelanin & Pheomelanin.

Pheomelanin colours the hair orange and yellow, all human beings have

some pheomelanin pigment present in their hair.

Eumelanin has 2 subtypes- Black eumelanin & Brown eumelanin. These

subtypes determine the darkness of hair colour.

Less Concentration of brown eumelanin = Blond hair

More Concentration of brown eumelanin = Brown hair

Less Concentration of black eumelanin = Gray hair

More Concentration of black eumelanin = Black hair

HAIR

Pheomelanin is more chemically stable than black eumelanin but is less

than brown eumelanin, hence it breaks down more slowly when

oxidised. That’s why bleach gives a darker hair a reddish tinge.

As pheomelanin break down continues hair becomes orange to yellow

and then finally white.

Pigment concentration affects hair colour -

1. Black hair- it is the darkest colour. Large amount of eumelanin is

present.

2. Brown hair- more brown eumelanin, less pheomelanin.

3. Blond hair- can have any proportion of both pigments.

4. Auburn hair- range from dark red(pheomelanin) to

brown(eumelanin) shade.

5. Chestnut hair- reddish shade of brown hairs.

HAIR

Red hair- highest amount of pheomelanin about 67% and low eumelanin.

Gray and White hair- it is not due to any gray or white pigment, but is due to lack of pigmentation and melanin.

Cause of hair graying-

There are many causes for hair graying, but mainly hydrogen peroxide is responsible for it.

Accumulated oxidative stress leads to the overproduction of H2O2 in the hair follicles. In other words hair begins to bleach itself from the inside out. The build up of H2O2 begins to block the melanin production.

This process is a series of complex mechanism involving the effect of oxidative stress and follicle damage on key enzymes.

HAIR

Key enzymes are- catalase, MSR A & B, tyrosinase.

Catalase is supposed to break up the H2O2 into water and oxygen, so the body can eliminate it. But catalase level drops as we age, allowing to accumulate H2O2

MSR A & B (methionine sulfoxide reductase A & B) are supposed to stimulate hair follicles to repair the damage caused by H2O2, but levels of these enzymes drop as we age.

And without enough MSR A & B the body can not produce enough of another enzyme, tyrosinase, which is directly involved in melanin production.

Conditions affecting hair colour

Age- hair lose their colour as human grow in age. Increase in age affects the melanin production in the body.

Naturally change in hair colour according to age is termed as Achromatrichia.

HAIR

Genetics- genes play major role in deciding hair colour. Mainly 2 genes are responsible for graying of hairs i.e Bcl2 & Bcl-w. Stem cells at the base of hair follicles produce melanocytes- these are the cells that produce and store pigment in hair and skin, the death of melanocytestem cells causes the onset of hair graying.

Our hair care products- tooth whitening agents and hair care products(hair bleaches, dyes, conditioners, shampoos) are being extensively used by the people. These products contain H2O2 which when increases in the body decreases the enzyme for melanin production. Hence hair graying occur.

Enviornmental pollution- Harmful free radicals are present in enviornmental pollution which get bind to healthy cells and cause cellular damage and decrease melanin production.

Smoking- smokers are more prone to hair graying as compared to nonsmokers.

Lack of Vit B12 & folic acid- these vitamins enhance the melanin production in the body naturally.

HAIR

Albinism- the inherited absence of pigmentation in the skin, hair, and

eyes, resulting in white hair and pink skin and pink eyes.

Vitiligo- a common autoimmune disease in which symmetrical white

or pale macule appear on the skin. Eyelashes turn white due to

accumulation of hydrogen peroxide.

Werner syndrome- premature aging

Pernicious anemia- RBC decrease

Malnutrition

Junk food- eating too much junk food increase the amount of

emulsifying agents, sodium bicarbonate in the body which directly

degrade the useful enzymes.

At some point in human life cycle cells located in the base of hair

follicles eventually slows or stops producing pigment. This condition is

termed as Apoptosis.

HAIR

HERBS -TO PREVENT HAIR GRAYING

1. Gurhal - Hibiscus rosa-sinensis

2. Bhringraj - Eclipta alba

3. Methi - Trigonella foenum-graecum

4. Amla - Emblica officinalis

5. Nariyal - Cocos nucifera

6. Jatamansi- Nardostachys jatamansi

HAIR

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis

Also called shoe flower, gurhal.

Active principles- anthocyanin

flavanoid & vitamin

Gurhal contain anthocyanin

cyanidin-3-sophoroside which

acts as antioxidant and arrest the

free radicals, hence it prevents the accumulation of hydrogen peroxide, as a result melanin production is enhanced and hair starts regaining its natural colour.

Gurhal contains flavanoid quercetin which acts as tanning agent.

Vitamin C present in gurhal gives antioxidant action against oxidative stress.

HAIR

Eclipta alba

Also called Bhringraja

Active principles of eclipta alba-

ecliptine, wedelolactone, apigenin

and alkaloids, glucosides.

Wedelolactone is a selective inhibitor of the potent inflammatory

chemical 5-lipoxigenase, the inhibition occurs via extremely aggressive

oxygen radical scavenging.

Hence eclipta alba helps to promote hair growth and prevents hair

graying and also helps to retain natural hair colour.

The methanol extract of whole plant when tested for hair growth

promoting potential, exhibited dose dependent activity in C57BL6 mice.

The activity was assessed by studying the melanogenesis in resected skin,

follicle count in the subcutis, skin thickness and surrogate markers in

vehicle control and extract treated animals. (Journal of Ethnopharmacology

,124, 450–456)

HAIR

Emblica officinalis

Also called amla, amalaki.

Active constituents- tannins

emblicannin A

emblicannin B

It also contain amino acids, iron.

The fruit is an important source of vitamin C, minerals and amino acids. It contains three times the protein concentration and vitamin C (ascorbic acid) concentration than apple.

Emblicannin is a polyphenolic antioxidant. Emblicannin A aggressively seeks and attacks free radicals. After it neutralizes free radicals, emblicannin A is transformed into emblicannin B, another antioxidant. Emblicannin inturn also atttacks free radicals and is transformed into emblicannin oligomers.

HAIR

Researchers at the Institute of Natural Medicine, University of

Toyama, Japan, called Emblic Myrobalan a very useful antioxidant to

support normal oxidative stress levels during the body's natural aging

process.

E. officinalis was found to be rich in enzymic antioxidants such as

catalase, peroxides, superoxide dismutase, polyphenol oxidase,

glutathione. All these play an important role in detoxification of

superoxide, anions and H2O2 respectively. As a result melanin

production is stimulated and hair starts regaining its natural colour.

(International Journal of Pharma and Biosciences, vol-3, 2012).

HAIR

Cocos nucifera

Also called Narikela, Nariyal.

Cocos nucifera contains a wide range of constituents, various inorganic ions, wide range of vitamins, amino acids and enzymes.

Cocos nucifera nourishes hair follicles and promotes hair growth

Coconut oil is a triglyceride of lauric acid (fatty acid) and has high affinity for hair protein.

It contains wide range of vitamins like Vit C (ascorbic acid-antioxidant) and biotin which are useful for hair care.

It contains amino acid tyrosine which helps to stimulate melanogenesis. Since stress can cause hair loss as well as color change, stable tyrosine levels are important. L-tyrosine dietary supplements may help hair that has changed color and regrowing hair regain its natural color.

Enzymes present in cocos nucifera like catalase and peroxidase which act as catalyst in melanin formation.

HAIR

Leucoanthocyanin present in coconut act as antioxidant which helps to arrest accumulation of hydrogen peroxide.

Nardostachys jatamansi

Also called jatamansi.

Jatamansi contains 3 terepenoid compounds-

nardal, nardin and jatamansic acid.

Oral admisnistration of jatamansi helps to remove

stress and anxiety which directly reduce the accumulation of free radicals.

Rhizome of jatamansi is being used as an aromatic adjunct in the preparation of medicinal oils, to promote hair growth and also imparts blackness.

Its rhizome extracted with hexane & chloroform gives hair growth promoting activity by reducing the hair growth time.

Essential oils obtained from its root show fungi toxic activity, antimicrobial, antifungal and hypotensive activities.

(C. P. Khare, Indian Medicainal Plants, 2011, 7, 146)

HAIR

Trigonella foenum-graecum

Also called fenugreek, methi.

Seed of this plant gives alkaloids, including trigonelline, gentianine and

carpaine, flavanoids and glycosides.

Its extract containing trigonelline and trigonellic acid is used as hair

growth stimulant.

Using fenugreek as a part of your diet or as a paste to directly apply on

your hair makes your hair shiny and black.

Massaging your head everyday with boiled

fenugreek seeds soaked overnight in coconut

oil can be an excellent remedy for thinning

of hair and hair fall.

Some Facts about hairs-

A single hair has a thickness of 0.02 - 0.04mm, so that 20 - 50 hair

strands next to each other make one millimetre.

Hair is strong as a wire of iron. It rips after applying a force equivalent

to 60kg, only after it stretched itself for about 70%.

Even on a good hair day, everyone loses at least 40 to 100 strands.

Hair consists mainly of keratin, which is also responsible for the

elasticity of fingernails.

More than 40% of people develop gray hair by the age of 40.

90% of your hairs are constantly growing, a hair having a lifespan of

about five years.

Reference

1. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, (124, 450–456)

2. Indian Medicinal Plants- C.P. Khare (2008, 2011)

3. Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India

4. International Journal of Phytopharmacology.

5. International Journal of Pharma and Biosciences, vol-3, 2012.

A PRESENTATION BY SURYA PRAJAPAT

THANK YOU