article · Asian Journal of Applied Chemistry Research
An antimicrobial soap was formulated using palm kernel oil and an ethanolic extract from the stem bark of Calotropis procera via a cold production process. Quality assessment of the palm kernel oil showed a saponification value of 210 mgKOH/g and an iodine value of 63.67 g/100. Evaluation of the finished soap demonstrated a pH of 9, foam stability of 3.5 minutes, a chloride content of 0.7 percent, and total fatty matter of 70 percent, aligning with regulatory standards set by NAFDAC. Laboratory testing through agar well diffusion revealed antimicrobial activity against clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans, with inhibition levels varying according to the soap concentration and the target microorganism. The measured antimicrobial effects suggest the formulation possesses therapeutic potential linked to phytochemicals in the plant extract.
Bacterial and fungal infections require effective hygiene solutions that comply with safety and manufacturing standards. Demonstrating that soap made with local plant extracts and palm kernel oil meets formal regulatory specifications while suppressing common pathogenic microorganisms shows a viable route for producing functional, plant-based cleansing products using locally sourced natural materials.
This formulation represents applied, laboratory-tested research for herbal personal care and antiseptic cleansing products. Prospective users include cosmetic and soap manufacturers seeking natural antimicrobial formulations. The work demonstrates laboratory-scale production and baseline compliance with regulatory benchmarks, but moving closer to real-world commercial use would require scaling up production beyond bench quantities, shelf-life evaluations, and comparative efficacy testing against standard commercial antiseptic soaps.
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Aims: The aim of this study was to produce an antimicrobial soap with ethanolic extract of the stem bark of Calotropis procera and palm kernel oil. And to compare its antimicrobial activities of the soap with the active ingredients from commercially available antiseptic soaps. Sample: The stem bark of Calotropis procera was collected from Gombe State University campus, Gombe State of Nigeria. This was taken to Botany Department, Gombe State University for identification. The palm kernel oil was purchased from Gombe Main Market, Gombe State, Nigeria. Place and Duration of Study: the study took at Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Gombe State University in June 2024 Methodology: To determine the quality of the palm kernel oil purchased; saponification value and iodine value of the oil was assessed. The cold process of soap production was used in the soap production. Where palm kernel oil (100 ml) was measured in a beaker and 50ml sodium hydroxide and 25ml sodium carbonate was added to the oil and stirred very well. The plant extract (5 ml) was also added to the mixture and stirred vigorously using a glass rod, and 2.6 g of magnesium sulphate was added in the mixture, 5g of sodium silicate was also added to the mixture and stirred very well. To the mixture, few drops of vanilla essence was added. Physico-chemical parameters of the soap were assessed to determine the quality of prepared formulation against marketed herbal soap. pH, moisture content, total fatty matter, chloride content, foam height, insoluble. This was done to know the quality of the soap produced. To determine the antimicrobial activity of the soap produced, agar well diffusion method was used. Results: The saponification value of the palm kernel oil was found to be 210 mgKOH/g and the iodine value obtained was 63.67 g/100. The soap produced was light brownish in color with a hint of vanilla essence. The pH value was found to be 9, which falls within the stipulated range limit of soap by NAFDAC (9.5-12.0). The foam stability of the soap was found to be 3.5 minutes. The chloride content of the soap produced 0.7 % which is less than that of NAFDAC’s 1%. The total fatty matter of the soap was also done and was found to be 70 %, which is within the stipulated range by NAFDAC (62.0%). The antimicrobial activity of the soap produced were determined against some clinical isolates of pathogenic microorganisms (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans) using agar diffusion method. The pattern of inhibition varied with the soap concentration and the organisms tested. Conclusion: The antimicrobial activities exhibited by the soap in this study could be attributed to the presence of phytochemical constituents in the crude extract, which signify the potential of the soap as a typical therapeutic agent. These findings therefore, confirmed the medicinal use of the soap prepared using palm kernel oil and the extract of the stem bark of Calotropis procera.
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DOI: 10.9734/ajacr/2025/v16i4365
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