A medicinal plant known as Citrullus lanatus (Family: Cucurbitaceae) has been used for a wide range of ailments throughout history. When the plant's phytochemistry was examined, it contained carbohydrates, alkaloids, steroids, saponins, glycosides, flavonoids, tannins and phenolic compounds. Additionally, fat, proteins, vitamins, and amino acids were found in the plant. Numerous scientists and researchers have conducted extensive research on the pharmacological properties and therapeutic applications of the plant, which include antimicrobial, antifungal, antiulcer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, gastroprotective, analgesic, laxative, hepatoprotective, and atherosclerosis. The purpose of the current study is to produce watermelon seed extract and identify its pharmacological and phytochemical properties. The samples were evaluated for proximate analysis like moisture, crude protein, ash, total fat, crude fiber, total carbohydrate, and total phenolic content. In the maceration process the Citrullus lanatus seeds were extracted in ethanol for seven days. Phytochemical analysis of primary metabolites (proteins, lipids and carbohydrates) and secondary metabolites (alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids and glycosides) was performed according to standard protocols. FTIR was also carried out to identify functional groups. The antidandruff activity was performed by diffusion method and ketoconazole disc was used as standard. The results of proximate analysis were found to be within the suggested ranges (USP, 2015). The phytochemical analysis had revealed that the extract contained a number of different phytochemicals i.e. protein, carbohydrates, lipids, polyphenols, flavonoids and alkaloids. The presence of different functional groups, such as -OH, -CH, and =CH, was detected in the FTIR spectrum. At various dilutions, Citrullus lanatus ethanolic extract showed significant antifungal analysis, with a inhibitory zone of 0.2 mm at 0.1% dilution, increasing to 0.25 mm at 0.3% dilution, and 0.3 mm at 0.5% dilution. The results are comparable to ketoconazole which is used as standard drug and its zone of inhibition was found to be 0.5 mm. This study showed that Citrullus lanatus ethanolic seed extracts revealed the presence of significant phytochemicals. Studies on the effects of Citrullus lanatus ethanolic extracts against Malassezia furfur showed considerable anti-dandruff activity.

Key words: Citrullus lanatus, Anti-dandruff, Ketoconazole, Minimal inhibitory concentration.