Extraction, Optimization, and Characterization of Bioactive Compounds from Cloves (Syzygium aromaticum), Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), and Moringa (Moringa oleifera) for the Management of Androgenetic Alopecia

Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a progressive form of hair follicle shrinkage that is caused by dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and oxidative stress, and it remains a global dermatological and socio-emotional distress. Conventional remedies like minoxidil and finasteride are known to cause side effects, this has forced the need for plantbased remedies. This study was conducted to check the extraction, optimization, and characterization of bioactive compounds from a blended solution of Syzygium aromaticum (clove), Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary), and Moringa oleifera (moringa) for the potential application in a plant- driven remedy for alopecia. The process was optimized using a mixture design on the Design Expert Software, where the materials extracted were varied in proportion in a bid to maximize the phytochemical yield. Phytochemical screening was done to confirm the presence of phenols, flavonoids, terpenoids, and steroids in all three extracts, with terpenoids being the most present (96-98%). Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was introduced and it identified key functional groups like hydroxyl (–OH), carbonyl (C=O), and C–O linkages, which are characteristic of polyphenolic and terpenoid constituents. UV–Vis spectrophotometric analysis which was also done confirmed excellent calibration linearity (R² = 0.9973). The experimental data were best fitted by a quadratic model with an R² of 0.9633, an adjusted R² of 0.9560, and a predicted R² of 0.9268 (p < 0.0001), all done to ensure strong predictive accuracy. The optimized mixture was made up of 3.0 g clove, 2.0 g rosemary, and 5.0 g moringa, which gave a desirability index of 1.000 and a predicted extraction yield of 14.385 wt%. Rosemary showed the highest total phenolic content (TPC = 1372.55 mg GAE/g), followed by clove (490.20 mg GAE/g) and moringa (150.98 mg GAE/g). The combined phytochemical profile implies strong antioxidant and putative 5α-reductase inhibitory potential, supporting the use of this optimized multi-plant blend as a satisfying candidate for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia.