FORMULATION AND ASSESSMENT OF ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF NATURAL HERBAL BATH SOAP
Synthetic ingredients and chemicals included in the majority of commercial soaps can be disagreeable or even damaging to the skin. The human skin necessitates specialized care for repair, improving skin tone, and attaining a luminous appearance. Natural herbal soaps are an alternative option. Herbal goods possess dual significance: they serve as cosmetics for body care, and their inclusion of phytochemicals and botanicals contributes to naturally healthy skin. The practice of herbalism and the utilization of herbal products have become prevalent trends. Indian herbs are the most prolific resource employed in the cosmetic business. The awareness of the health advantages and cost-effectiveness of herbal products is leading to their increasing global proliferation. Our study aimed to formulate herbal soap utilizing the cold process technique. The primary objectives of this study include gathering samples for soap formulation and evaluating the freshly produced organic herbal soap through various examinations. This encompasses the examination of its physicochemical qualities, antibacterial efficacy via the disc-diffusion assay, and antioxidant capabilities. Furthermore, the soap's moisture content, thermal stability, and sensory attributes will be assessed. Finally, a skin irritancy evaluation will be performed to confirm its safety for application. Extracts of ginger, aloe vera, turmeric, moringa, and all mixed [ginger+aloe vera+ turmeric + moringa] along with sodium hydroxide (lye), Eucalyptus oil, coconut oil, lemon grass oil and Vitamin-E capsule oil were incorporated into the basic saponification reaction. Further, evaluated for antibacterial efficacy against Pseudomonas and Streptococcus utilizing the agar diffusion method. For twenty-four hours, the agar plates were incubated at 37°C. The diameter of the bacterial inhibition zones around each well was measured to the nearest millimeter. After the herbal formulation was prepared, it was tested using different concentrations of soap solution to compare its pH, moisture content, foaming index, foam retention duration, saponification, total fatty matter determination, ethanol-soluble matter, and antibacterial activity to standards. The results demonstrated that the pH levels ranged from 6.5 to 7, moisture content was 3.5%, foam index measured 16.5, foam retention time was 10.0 minutes, saponification value was 161.287 mg/ml, total fatty matter (TFM) constituted 72%, and ethanol-soluble matter accounted for 63.80% in the herbal soap. The evaluation tests demonstrated that the herbal soap has adequate antibacterial effectiveness relative to conventional antibiotics. The oils utilised are intended to treat various skin conditions and for daily application. As an alternative to chemical soaps, the herbal soap formulation satisfies market standards. It possesses antimicrobial characteristics and enhances skin quality, rendering it soft, smooth, and pliable. The research validates the effectiveness of polyherbal soap in enhancing skin health.