Physicochemical Properties of Noni Fruit, Yam Root, Rose Petal, and Betel Leaf Transparent Soap and Their Antimicrobial Activities

Abstract

Natural soap is prepared without an artificial surfactant, and with the addition of functional ingredients such as a natural substance, essential oil, or plant extract. The present study was to perform transparent soap formulation enriched with noni (Morinda citrifolia L.) fruit, yam (Pachyrizus erosus) root, rose (Rosa damascena) petal, and betel (Piper betle L.) leaf extract and investigate its antibacterial activity. These herbal transparent soaps were made by hot process method. Physicochemical characteristics tested were moisture content, pH, total fatty matter, free fatty acid content, and chloride content. Antimicrobial activities of herbal transparent soaps were investigated by agar well diffusion method. The result showed that transparency was maintained when the moisture content was greater than 17% but not exceed about 21%. pH value of herbal transparent soap ranged from 9.22 to 9.47, while the free fatty acid content ranged from 0.12% to 2.15%. Yam root transparent soap showed the highest total fatty matter (45.12%). While the lowest total fatty matter was shown by the betel leaf transparent soap (23.20%). The chloride content of noni fruit, yam root, rose petal, and betel leaf transparent soap was 14.38%, 14.17%, 21.81%, and 16.52%, respectively. Noni fruit, yam root, betel leaf transparent soaps had stronger antimicrobial inhibitory than control soap, while the rose petal transparent soap had comparable antimicrobial inhibitory with control. All herbal transparent soap and control at the concentration level of 10% and 20% exhibited antibacterial activity against all microorganism tested (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans) to a certain degree.