FORMULATION AND ASSESSMENT OF ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF NATURAL HERBAL SOAP AGAINST COMMERCIAL MARKET SOAP
This research examines the comparative analysis of commercially available bar soaps alongside a newly developed herbal soap. Bar soaps, which are typically produced from saponified animal fats or plant oils, are extensively utilized for personal hygiene purposes. Two well-known commercial soaps from the local market such as Lux and Pears were chosen and evaluated based on their physicochemical characteristics, such as pH, wetting ability, dirt dispersion, foaming index, and fragrance. Simultaneously, an herbal soap was created utilizing extracts from medicinal plants ginger, aloe vera, turmeric, and moringa recognized for their antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties. The herbal soap was formulated using both individual and combined extracts, and its characteristics were assessed using the same criteria as the commercial soaps. This study aims to compare the efficacy and advantages of commercially available soaps with those of herbal formulation, emphasizing the potential of natural ingredients in the development of effective and skin-friendly hygiene products.