ABSTRACT:
The Kampung Naga community, Salawu District, Tasikmalaya, West Java uses plants to clean and strengthen hair for a long time. Until now, they have thick and strong hair. This is considered as the effect of the plants they use when shampooing, namely Sterculia urceolata. The objective of this work was to investigate the hair growth stimulants activity from Sterculia urceolata JE Smith’s ethanol extract and its fractions. Leaves of S. urceolata were macerated thrice a week in petroleum ether, then in ethanol. Powdered leaves and ethanolic extract were subjected to phytochemical investigation. The ethanol extract was fractionated by ethyl acetate and n-hexane. Ethanol extract and fractions obtained were tested on male rabbits for 18 days a day twice every morning and evening using a modified Tanaka method. Minoxidil 2% was used as control positive. It was found that the extract concentration of 15% was the best concentration compared to the positive control. All fractions had hair growth stimulant activity, but the fraction that had a statistically significant difference was the water fraction with a concentration of 15%. From the results of this study, it concluded that the ethanol extract of S. urceolata and its fractions showed hair growth stimulant activity in male rabbits and statistically the fraction of water with 15% extract concentration was the best fraction.. It suggest that research on volunteers needs to be done before it can be used in humans.