Production of Antiseptic Solutions Containing Extracts of Momordica Charantia L. and Azadirachta Indica A. Juss and Evaluation of its Antimicrobial Activity Against Microorganisms Associated with Folliculitis

Abstract

This study was designed to investigate the effectiveness of Azadirachta indica and Momordica charantia leaves and their formulated antiseptic solutions against selected organisms associated with folliculitis. Ethanol extracts of A. indica and M. charantia leaves were btained and phytochemical analyses conducted using standard procedures. Antimicrobial tests on six microorganisms were conducted using standard methods. Three solutions each with varying percentage of extracts (1, 2.5 and 5%) were produced from the ethanol extracts of A. indica (FAi1, FAi2 and FAi3) and M. charantia (FMc1, FMc2 and FMc3) respectively through step-wise mixing. The antiseptic solutions produced were evaluated for their physicochemical properties and antimicrobial assay conducted on six selected microorganisms. The solutions were stored at 29 ± 4oC for 40 days and evaluated using pH, viscosity and organoleptic properties. The formulations were Newtonian fluids with pH compatible with the skin. FMc1 significantly inhibited Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Candida albicans and Trichophyton rubrum (20.5 ± 0.7, 28.0 ± 0.0, 14.0 ± 0.0, 17.0 ± 1.4, 13.0 ± 1.4 and 15.0 ± 1.4 mm respectively) than others. FMc2, FAi1 and Gentamicin showed the highest inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus (22.00 ± 0.01) followed by FMc1 (20.5 ± 0.70), FAi3 (20.0 ± 0.01), FMc3 (19.0 ± 1.40), Dettol (18.0 ± 0.02) and FAi2 (17.0 ±1.40). Momordica charantia formulated antiseptic solutions were more effective than those containing Azadirachta indica.&nbsp