Influence of Gamma Radiation on Microbial and Viscosity Parameters of Henna Based Hair Colour

Jayaganesh Sankar, Jainendra Malakar, Bachan Singh Rawat, Venkataramana Arbettu Padmanabha

Henna has been used as a cosmetic hair dye for 6,000 years. The leaves are reduced to fine powder and mixed with water, to form a paste, which is applied to the hair for deliver the colour and conditioning to the hair.   In recent years, the dye intermediate and oxidizing agent like sodium perborate/ barium peroxide also mixed with henna powder to deliver the desired colour to the hair.  The combinations of selective dyes, oxidation agent, along with henna powder deliver the variety of shades to the hair.   Article deals with the influence of gamma radiation among the colour delivery, microbial population and viscosity of henna paste.  Exposure the henna powder in to gamma radiation does not affect the colour delivery; gamma radiation does not affect the dye intermediates as well as lawsone content also.  Gamma irradiation of henna powder drastically reduced the microbial population when compared to the untreated control.  Accidently noticed that the viscosity of henna paste dropped by gamma irradiation process.  Exclusively articles deals with the optimum dosage of gamma radiation with respect to viscosity and microbial population. Study results revealed that optimum dosage is 8 KGy in terms of microbial and viscosity parameters.   Irradiation of henna powder has to improve the hygienic quality of the product and extended the shelf-life of the products and it is stand alone in the export markets/international business.