A Systematic Review of Antimicrobial Studies on Surfactants Synthesized from Palm Oil and Its Derivatives
Surfactants are broadly categorized into green and petrochemical-based types and are widely used in various formulations. Although petrochemical-based surfactants are extensively utilized, green surfactants are gaining attention due to concerns over the drawbacks associated with petrochemical-based alternatives, marking the beginning of the green surfactants era. There have been many discussions about using industrial waste as a carbon source for biosurfactant production, along with their antimicrobial and anticancer properties; however, limited studies have explored the association between palm oil-derived biosurfactants and their antimicrobial activities. Hence, this systematic review focuses on palm oil-based surfactants and their relatively unexplored antimicrobial properties. Keywords such as palm oil, surfactant antibacterial, microorganisms, bacteria, fungus, and virus were used in the search process. From a total of 1,269 articles, 6 were selected, highlighting the potential of palm oil in biosurfactant formulations and their antimicrobial activities. Mostly broth microdilution and agar well diffusion were employed to determine minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). Notably, palm oil-derived biosurfactants have demonstrated effectiveness in inhibiting biofilm formation, indicating promising applications in medical devices. Furthermore, they have shown the ability to inhibit the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, one of the primary pathogens responsible for various infectious diseases. These findings support the potential of palm oil-based surfactants as effective antimicrobial agents.