Hair Cosmetics Feasibility Study

Ten brands of hair cosmetics were randomly purchased from shops Zaria metropolis, Kaduna state in Nigeria, and were subjected to microbiological assessment for microbial quality and preservative capacity. The culture media used were Mueller-Hinton agar (MHA), Mueller-Hinton Broth (MHB) and Nutrient Agar (NA). These media were used for Sensitivity Test, determination of MIC and MBC respectively. The MIC of the creams was determined using the tube dilution method. Serial dilution of the creams was carried out in a well labeled test tubes using Mueller-Hinton broth as diluents. The isolates used in this study are Staphylococcus aureus and pseudomonad aeruginosa, as they are of major concern to the Standard Organization of Nigeria in terms of the

The wells were properly labeled according to the number of different concentrations prepared. The wells were then filled with 0.2ml of the cream solution. The plates were left on the bench for about 1 hour for the creams to diffuse into the agar and they were incubated at 37oC for 24hours. After the incubation period, the plates were observed for any evidence of inhibition (Zone of Inhibition), which will appear as a clear zone that were completely devoid of growth around the wells. The diameter of the zones was measured using a transparent ruler calibrated in millimeter. The MIC of the creams was determined using the tube dilution method. Serial dilution of the creams was carried out in a well labeled test tubes using Mueller-Hinton broth as diluents. Each standardized organism was inoculated into each tube containing the diluted cream and the broth. A tube containing sterile Mueller-Hinton broth without an organism was used as control. All the inoculated tubes were then incubated at 37oC for 24 hours. After incubation period, the tubes were observed for the presence or absence of the growth using turbidity as a criterion. The lowest concentration in the series without visible signs of growth (turbidity) was considered to be the MIC. The results from the MIC were used to determine the

Careful perusal of Table-4.5 shows that, at a concentration of 25mg/ml, all other hair creams with exception of DAM showed bactericidal effect and bacteriostatic effect at 12.5mg/ml. Only DAM showed a bactericidal effect at a concentration of 6.25mg/ml and bacteriostatic effect at 3.125mg/ml. In all the hair cream samples, DAM showed the highest bacteriostatic and bactericidal effect against S.aureus and since a lower MIC is an indication of a better antimicrobial agent, of all the hair cream samples, it has a better antimicrobial agent. The same trend was observed for the MIC and MBC of the hair cream samples against p.aeroginosa, except that for DAM, the bactericidal and bacteriostatic effect was at 25mg/ml and 12.5mg/ml respectively, while other hair creams, showed bactericidal and bacteriostatic effect at 50mg/ml and 25mg/ml respectively, still making DAM with a lower MIC & MBC compared to others having a better antimicrobial agent than