European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

FORMULATION AND ASSESSMENT OF THE ANTIMICROBIAL PROPERTIES OF SOAP FORMULATED FROM THE OILS OF HARUNGANA MADAGASCARIENSIS AND CYPERUS ESCULENTUS SEEDS

Ordu J. I.* and Abraham Mary Great

ABSTRACT

Soap is a source of fatty acid useful in variety of forms as surfactants, thickeners, components of some lubricants and precursors to catalysts. The study is aimed at the formulation and evaluation of soap made from extracted seed oils of H. madagascariensis and C. esculentus plant. Four batches of formulations were made and identified as: batch A soap (C. esculentus oil alone), batch B soap from (H. madagascariensis oil), batch C soap from oils of (C. esculentus/ H. madagascariensis (3:1) and batch D (C. esculentus/ H. madagascariensis (1:3). The products of the various batches were compared for efficacy and antimicrobial activity with standard (Dettol soap). Formulation of the soap involved simple mixture of fats and oils with a base (NaOH) by process of continuous stirring of the mixture, transferring to a mold for curing and allowing for completion of the saponification process. Using the agar diffusion assay, zones of inhibition of some strains of micro-organisms including bacteria and fungi were determined. The soap formulations were evaluated for various physicochemical properties such as appearance, pH, percentage free alkali content, foam height, moisture content, total fatty matter and alcohol insoluble content. The pH of the product from the various batches ranged between 10.3 to 11.5 and this is comparable to dettol soap. The results of the antimicrobial analysis of batch C showed clear zones of inhibition ranging between 12mm and 13mm for E.coli and S.aureus and that for batch D showed clear zone of inhibition between 10mm and 15mm respectively for E.coli and P.aerugnosa while the results found with other formulations (batches A and B) showed low activity. Results of the physicochemical properties of all the batches had % free alkali content ranging between 0.26 – 0.29, moisture content 4.65- 5.51%, total fatty matter 0.25-0.28g, alcohol insoluble content 18-21g and foam height of 7.5- 9.5cm. From the study, product of batch D, seems promising by showing appreciable physicochemical characteristics with better emollient property and antibacterial activities comparable to that obtained with commercial products than the other formulations.

Keywords: Harungana madagascariensis, Cyperus esculentus, Formulation, Assessment, oil extracts, Soap.