EFFECT OF ESSENTIAL OIL EXTRACTED FROM AZADIRACHTA INDICA (NEEM) LEAVES IN FORMULATED NATURAL ANTIBACTERIAL SOAP

Abstract

Natural remedy is sustainable in nature and was used in this present study, effects of essential oils from Azadirachta indica (neem) leaves in antibacterial soap was investigated. The essential oil was extracted via steam distillation and characterization of oil results are %yield (28%), acid value (16.5±0.5mg KOH/g); iodine value (42.40±2.5mgI/g)and saponification values (139±3.2mg KOH/g). The extract proportions 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 (mg/ml) respectively were used to formulate the soaps. The results of the soap characterization were: pH (9.3); foamability (3.5cm), color (light yellow).The antibacterial investigation used Ciprofloxacin and ketoconazole as positive controls whereas Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans were clinical isolates of microbes used. Sensitivity test was conducted and an in vitro evaluation of the anti-microbial activity was conducted using ditch-plate techniques. Strains of reference microbes namely Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli were tested at four different soaps’ concentrations (0.0, 2.0, 5.0 and 8.0 mg/ml). ANOVA mean results of zones of inhibition also revealed variability of antimicrobial activity among the natural formulated soaps with strong positive correlation (r= 0.9912 ; P > 0.01) between zones of inhibition and soaps’ concentrations was evidenced. Blend 8:2 of the formulation exhibited the largest zone of inhibition (40 mm) on S. aureus, followed by Candida albicans with (35 mm) zone of inhibition whereas the least zone of inhibition (1.8 mm) was observed in 2mg/ml extract formulation. The high pH shows it conforms to NAFDEC set range of 9 to 11 pH. Therefore with local oil, National Economic Transformation is achieved hence, this highly sustainable product is recommended to homes, pharmaceutical companies, health organizations and government in handling topical issues related to skin infections caused by micro organisms.