Leung's Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs, and Cosmetics

effectiveat0.1%(1000 ppm)concentrations;9–11
antibacterial activities towardBrucella,Neis-
seria,Staphylococcus,Salmonella,Strepto-
coccus, and others, with a concentration of
0.005–0.02% (50–200mg/mL) being effec-
tive against the first two groups;1,3,12antitu-
mor activities (e.g., against sarcoma 180 in
mice, Walker 256 carcinosarcoma in rats, and
human hepatoma cell lines);12–14and anti-
spasmodic properties as well as weak vitamin
K activity.1,2
In addition to the antibacterial properties of
lawsone, crude henna extracts and fractions
containinggallicacid,and1,4-naphthoquinone
have also exhibited antibacterial activities.3,9
Ethanolic extracts containing luteolin,
b-sitosterol, and lawsone displayed anti-in-
flammatory, antihyaluronidase, analgesic, and
antipyretic activities.9,15–17
Antioxidant, hepatoprotective, and immu-
nomodulatory activities have also been re-
ported for henna extracts.4,15,18,19
Henna leaves (but not the seeds) have been
reported to exhibit antifertility activity in
female rats.^20 At least two reports, however,
indicated that henna was nongenotoxic to
mouse bone marrow and did not produce DNA
damage in Chinese hamster ovary cells.21,22
The major adverse reactions reported for hen-
na after topical application are complicated
skin allergy (severe dermatitis, eczema, etc.)
and less frequent cases of hemolytic anemia in
children, but this has been attributed to the
syntheticp-phenylenediamine (PPD) added
to many henna tattoo/dye products to impart
a darker shade.23–37

USES

Medicinal, Pharmaceutical, and Cosmetic.

Henna is used in numerous hair care products

(e.g., dyes, conditioners, rinses, etc.). Pro-

longed use of henna on the hair would turn

the hair orange red, unless henna is mixed with

other dyes such as indigo and logwood

to obtain different shades. To obtain a long-

lasting color, the henna preparation must be

rendered slightly acid (ca., pH 5.5) by adding

a weak acid (e.g., citric, boric, or adipic).

Traditional Medicine. Leaves have been ex-

tensively used for centuries in theMiddle East,

the Far East, and northern Africa as a dye for

nails, hands, hair, clothing, and others; they

are also used in treating skin problems, head-

ache, jaundice, amebiasis, enlargement of the

spleen, and cancers, among others.1,38

Others. Lawsone can be used as an

acid–base indicator for the titration of strong

acids with weak bases.^39

COMMERCIAL PREPARATIONS

Mainly the crude.

Regulatory Status. Has been approved for

use as a color additive exempt from certifica-

tion, to be used in cosmetics (hair) only

(§73.2190).

REFERENCES

See the General References forGUPTA;BALSAM AND SAGARIN;DUKE4;BRUNETON;JIANGSU;LUST;GRIEVE;
MARTINDALE;MCGUFFIN1&2;MERCK;MORTON2;ROSE;TERRELL;UPHOF;WREN.

1. M. S. Karawaya et al.,Lloydia, 32 ,76
   (1969).


2. A.Latif,IndianJ.Agric.Sci., 29 ,147(1959).


3. Y. Abd-el-Malek et al., Zentralbl.
   Bakteriol., Parasitenk., Infektionskr.
   Hyg., Abt. 2, 128 , 61 (1973).
   4. B. R. Mikhaeil et al.,Z. Naturforsch. C,
   59 , 468 (2004).
   5. D. K. Bhardwaj et al.,Phytochemistry, 16 ,
   1616 (1977).
   6. D. K. Bhardwaj et al.,Phytochemistry, 15 ,
   1789 (1976).

356 Henna