Formulation and Evaluation of Antimicrobial Herbal Soap by Using Turmeric, Orange peel powder & Neem

The herbal soap is a type of herbal cosmetics. The herbal cosmetics are preparation containing phytochemicals from variety of botanical sources, which influence function of skin and also provide nutrients necessary for healthy skin and body. In the cosmetic preparation natural herbs, products and some extract used for their aromatic value are called as herbal cosmetics. Herbal cosmetics are made up by the natural ingredients, various plant and seeds extracts. They are neither have adverse effect nor allergic responses. They can easily blend on the skin. Compared with the other beauty products in small quantities it is more effective. They are widely available and present in wide range of plants. popular advantages of herbal cosmetics are they are non-toxic in nature and they having tendency to reduce allergic reactions. Plant having one or more of its parts having substance that can be used for treatment of disease are called medicinal plants. Medicinal component derived from plants are widely famous due to their safety, east availability and low cost. Herbal medicines may include whole part of plant or mostly leaves, root, bark, seeds and flowers of the plant. Plants contain phytochemicals such as alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, terpenoids, essential oils and phenolic compound. Soap is a mixture of sodium salts of various naturally occurring fatty acids. The most commercial soaps contain chemicals that can be harmful to the skin and using a natural herbal soap can be a good alternative. Herbal soap is a natural alternative to conventional soap that is often made by using botanical herbs and plant – based ingredients. Herbal soaps are also prepared by medicinal plants which contain anti-ageing, anti-microbial, anti- oxidant which are beneficial for treatment  of skin related problems, disease, injury etc. This preparation possesses anti-microbial properties and are administered topically and available to apply in various forms like creams, gels, soaps, ointments etc. Herbal soaps are effective in curing different skin problems. The herbs infused in these soaps have therapeutic and healing characteristics that offers specific benefits to the skin such as nourishment, strength, healing and moisturizing. These soaps also contain glycerin which is generally not used in commercial soaps. Glycerin helps in retaining the moisture in skin thereby making these soaps for dry skin conditions. Herbal soaps are natural product mostly found in the treatment of almost all types of skin related problems also it uses to enhance beauty.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Materials used for anti-microbial herbal soap are as follows-

• Sodium hydroxide.
• Neem oil.
• Turmeric.
• Ritha.
• Orange peel powder.
• Steric acid.
• Glycerine.
• Triethanolamine.
• Distilled water.

Procedure For Preparation of Anti-Microbial Herbal Soap

Cold Process Method:

Three herbal soap formulations (B1, B2 & B3) were prepared by cold press method as given in table no.1.

• The soap formulation base was prepared by taking sodium hydroxide and dissolve in distilled water and the solution was heated at 70°C in a beaker.
• Then in another beaker glycerine, orange peel powder and ritha were taken into 250ml beaker and placed it on water bath with stirring it and heated the mixture to 60°C.
• Once this heat is attained steric acid was added and heated at 68°C by slowly added the lye (sodium hydroxide) solution with stirring it until the mixture become transparent.
• After this required quantity of herbal oil and extract were mixed to the above solution.
• Volume was made up to 100ml by adding remaining distilled water. The solution was kept undisturbed for a one hour at 68°C.
• At the last few drops of jasmine oil was also added to impart aroma of prepared soap. After one-hour triethanolamine was added slowly.
• The soap solution was cooled to 62- 64°C. Then the prepared soap mixture was poured into mould.
• The mould was kept aside for 3-4 days for the solidification of the soap.

Table 1: Formulation and Anti-microbial Herbal Soap

Evaluation Tests:

Evaluation of physiochemical parameters of the prepared formulation, various physiochemical parameters which motioned below were performed to establish the quality of the prepared formulations.

1. Determination of organoleptic characteristics:

Clarity and the colour were checked by naked eyes and odour was smelled. The formulation of anti- microbial soap was in solid form.

2. Size and shape determination:

The size of the prepared soap was 8.4cm, thickness 2.6cm which is in round shape. The size of soap is ideal size and apply comfortably on the affected skin part of the body.

3. Weight determination:

The weight was determined by digital weighing balance.

4. Foam retention:

Prepared the 25ml of the 1% of soap solution and transferred it into 100ml measuring cylinder. Then cylinder was shaken 10 times. The volume of foam was recorded at one minute for 4 to 5 minutes.

5. Foam hight:

0.5 gm of the soap sample was taken and dispersed in 25ml of distilled water.  Then  transferred  it  into 100ml measuring cylinder, the volume was made up to 50ml with water. 25 strokes were given and stand till aqueous volume was measured up to 50ml and measured the foam height, above the aqueous volume.

6. pH determination:

The pH determination test was performed for all the batches of formulation. Each formulation of the prepared soap solution was dissolved in 20ml of distilled waster and tested with the help of a digital pH meter. The measurement of pH for all formulation batches was done by previously calibrated pH meter.

7. Alcohol insoluble matter:

5gm of prepared soap was taken in a conical flask and added 50ml warm ethanol and shaken vigorously to dissolve the soap. The solution was filtered through a tarred filter paper with 20ml of warm ethanol and dried at 105°C for 1hrs. the weight of dried paper with residue was taken.

8. Anti-microbial test:

The prepared soap was subjected to anti-microbial screening by the agar well diffusion standard cup plate method. Organisms used were E. coli, S. aureus and P. aeruginosa. One gram of soap was mixed with 5ml of sterile water.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The evaluation of anti-microbial herbal soap was performed successfully. The prepared herbal soap was shown in figure no. 1. The physiochemical parameters for herbal soap formulation F1, F2, F3 such as colour, odour, appearance and pH were determined. The formulation has a yellowish colour with an aromatic odour and good appearance. The pH was found to be in the range of 7.3. healthy skin has pH of 5.4 to 5.9 and the prepared formulation pH was found to be neutral in nature and doesn`t cause any irritation to skin. Other parameters like foam height, foam retention was also performed and showed good results. Alcohol insoluble matter was also evaluated successfully which was found to be 15-19%, it indicated that the prepared soaps were free from non- soap ingredients. The anti-microbial activity of herbal soaps was studied. The results obtained from the studies         were        shown photographically in table no.