DANDRUFF

Seborrheic Dermatitis (SD) and dandruff are common dermatological problems that

affect the seborrheic areas of the body. They are considered the same basic condition

sharing many features and responding to similar treatments, differing only in locality and

severity. Dandruff is restricted to the scalp, and involves itchy, flaking skin without

visible inflammation. SD affects the scalp as well as face, retro-auricular area, and the

upper chest, causing flaking, scaling, inflammation and pruritus, and can have marked

erythema. Flaking in SD and dandruff is usually white-to-yellowish, and may be oily or

dry. (Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami Miller

School of Medicine, 1600 NW 10th Avenue, RMSB 2023A, Miami, Florida 33136, USA)

This condition is likely caused by an overgrowth of Malassezia yeast (a substance

normally found in the skin) that triggers inflammation, causing changes in the skin. In

infants, the condition is often called “cradle cap” and typically resolves on its own. In

adults, the condition can improve without treatment or worsen over a period of years.

Bacteria may be the culprits behind your flaky scalp, a new study suggests, not fungi. A

team from Japan and China found dandruff, which afflicts around half the world’s

population, is more strongly linked to populations of two bacterial groups

– Propionibacterium and Staphylococcus – than the Malassezia fungus, which also

happily colonises the human scalp and is widely believed to be the main cause of the
condition. Most dandruff studies have focused on Malassezia. There are 14 known

species of Malassezia, with two – M. restricta and M. globosa – linked to skin diseases.

But they’re not the only microbes living in your hair. Bacteria like it there too. It’s warm

and full of food. Fungi and bacteria chow down saturated fatty acids found in sebum, the

oily substance secreted from the scalp. So Menghui Zheng from Shanghai Jiao Tong

University in China and colleagues swabbed the scalps of 59 Chinese men and women,

aged 18 to 60, 48 hours after washing with a non-anti-dandruff shampoo to ascertain

sebum levels and bacterial and fungal populations.

Dermatologists also judged the subjects’ dandruff levels using the adherent scalp

flaking scale which scores dandruff on a scale of zero to eight. They found, as

expected, older people had more dandruff. The dominant fungus was Malassezia, and

the main bacterial populations were Propionibacterium and Staphylococcus. No surprise

there either.

But Malassezia levels weren’t associated with dandruff levels.

Instead, Propionibacterium and Staphylococcus held greater sway over scalp flakiness.

Compared to normal scalps, those with dandruff housed lower levels

of Propionibacterium and more Staphylococcus.

This mutual inhibition, the researchers write, has been shown before: the

bacteria each exude or meditate processes that make life difficult for the

other.Addressing bacterial imbalance, they suggest, by boosting Propionibacterium and

suppressing Staphylococcus may provide a more effective dandruff remedy for those

with severe cases than antifungals. ( Belinda Smith, May 12 2016)

PARAGIS

Paragis, also known as wiregrass, dog’s tail, or goosegrass has a scientific name

of Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn (Garcia et al., 2003; Pizon et al., 2016; Amoah et al.,

2017). This grass is abundant and can be seen everywhere, but are regarded as having

no economic value. It is only utilized as carabao’s food, but not until recently that the

grass hit high popularity in social media, saying that it may offer health-beneficial

components, and it is believed to cure illnesses potentially. According to the reports,

Paragis indeed possesses many medicinal properties. (Dolie T. Makinano1 and Lynette

C. Cimafranca1)

It is believed to have a diuretic effect (Gruyal et al., 2014), antiurolithiatic effect

(Amoah et al., 2017), antihelmintic activity (Morah & Otuk, 2015), antibacterial activity

(Al-Zubaire et al., 2011; Mora & Otuk, 2015), antidiabetic effect (Garcia et al., 2003;

Okokon et al., 2010), antifungal activity (Alaekwe et al., 2015), antiplasmodial effect

(Okokon et al., 2010), antioxidant activity (Al-Zubairi et al., 2011; Iqbal & Gnanaraj,

2012), and antihypertensive activity (Tutor & ChichiocoHernandez, 2018).

It could also be used against airway inflammatory processes like influenza and

pneumonia, according to De Melo et al. (2005). The hepaprotective effect (Iqbal &

Gnanaraj, 2012) and pharmaceutical action of E. indica were reported to have been due

to the generous supply of phytochemicals and antioxidants. The grass contains

alkaloids, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, tannins, and saponins (Okokon et al., 2010; ;
Etta et al., 2019)Gbadamosi and Otobo, 2014; Alaekwe et al., 2015; Morah & Otuk,

2015; Etta et al., 2019)

Acidic compounds, anthraquinones, and terpenes were likewise observed in E. indica

extracts (Alaekwe et al., 2015; Mora & Otuk, 2015; Okokon et al., 2010).

According to Gbadamosi (2012), this botanical plant, among others, supports increased

energy and nutritional requirements in pregnancy, prevent malnutrition, and

supplements phytochemicals in therapeutic activities. Moreover, safety in the

administration of the weed was confirmed through toxicological studies of the plants

(Gbadamosi and Otobo, 2014), aside from the fact that it has been extensively used in

traditional and herbal medicine applications in various countries, and possibly be

included in general medical practice (Al-Zubairi et al., 2011)

The potential of paragis in pharmaceutical and medical importance, therefore, cannot be

discounted. As a commodity that is locally available and abundant here in Leyte and

anywhere in the Philippines, and the neighboring countries, it calls for creating value to

this disregarded grass. Hence, the development of a high-value product such as

cookies that are incorporated with it.( Dolie T. Makinano1 and Lynette C. Cimafranca1)

The presence of high antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties make paragis a

feasible dandruff-causing yeast inhibitor since these properties upon chemical reactions

yield antibacterial and pain-relieving compounds. ( Brigida Adoptante, 2019-01-18)

Paragis (Elusine indica) is a plant that has antioxidant properties that remove dandruff

from scalp. Paragis has protein, and its leaves have silicon monoxide(Casiano, K. .,

Dechavez, J. ., Dilao, G. ., Tria, J. M. ., De Guzman, A., Macanas, A. M. ., & Asuncion,

LPT, E. . (2020)

A mixture of minced paragis leaves (including its stems) and coconut oil can be used as

a shampoo to eradicate dandruff.( 25 JANUARY 2018, NILA ESLIT)