Evaluation of herbal handwash formulation

Abstract

A herbal handwash was prepared using extracts of leaves of <b><i style="">Terminalia</i></b><b><i style=""> catappa </i>Linn.,</b> <b><i style="">Couroupita</i></b><b><i style=""> guianensis </i>Aubl.</b> and rinds of <b><i style="">Garcinia</i></b><b><i style=""> indica </i>Choisy</b>. The antibiotic sensitivity test of the prepared herbal handwash against skin pathogens was checked using Disc diffusion method and results were compared with the commercially available antiseptic soap. The results showed that the herbal hand wash gave larger inhibition zone than the commercial antiseptic soap against <i style="">Staphylococcus aureus </i>and<i style=""> Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>. The efficacy of the herbal hand wash was evaluated using Glove Juice method which revealed that the herbal hand wash is efficient in reducing higher number of organisms from the hands than the commercial antiseptic soap. Hence, due to the higher antimicrobial activity these plant materials can be used in the preparation of herbal hand wash on commercial scale.