Abstract

To avoid skin dryness and irritation encountered with alcohol-based sanitizers, Toddalia asiatica stem bark extract was explored in formulation of a germicidal herbal antiseptic detergent. A L9 (34) Taguchi Orthogonal Array was used to optimize set factors for design and preparation. Antimicrobial activities were screened by disc diffusion method for formulated herbal detergent; blank detergent; commercial handwash and tap water. A model handwash efficacy experiment was carried out using volunteers, which involved enumeration of bacteria from water used for palm rinsing after a hand-wash with the test agents. Freeze-drying attained 11% yield from 500g plant material. The set factors for herbal antiseptic detergent preparation were optimized to 10% extract in 5g of sodium lauryl salt stirring for 15 minutes at 30OC. The herbal detergent displayed highest antimicrobial activity indicated by zone of inhibition diameters of 24mm (M.R.S. aureus) and 22mm (M. gypseum) compared to 22mm and 14mm respectively by the commercial hand wash. In the model hand wash efficacy experiment, the formulated herbal detergent attained 78.8% reduction of pathogenic load as compared to 67.9% reduction with the commercial handwash. The remarkable potency illustrated presents T. asiatica phytocompounds as promising germicidal non-synthetic active ingredients for formulation of antiseptic detergents.

Key words: Toddalia asiatica; herbal; antiseptic; detergent; formulation