ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITIES OF THE INDIGENOUS BLACK SOAP FORTIFIED WITH HONEY ON SOME SELECTED SKIN PATHOGENS

Abstract

Antimicrobial activities of the black soap and the antagonistic potentials on the following skin pathogens: Escherichia coli, Klebsiellapneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidisPseudomonas aeruginosa,Trichophytonrubrum, Candida albicans,Escherichia coli ATCC-25922, Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC-11930,Staphylococcus aureus ATCC-25923,Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC-12228, Pseudomonas aeruginosaATCC-27853and Candida albicansATCC-10261were investigated using agar diffusion method. Black soap was prepared using ashes from dried plantain skin by saponification and then fortified with honey at 20g/250ml of molten soap before allowing it to cure in a mould for two weeks. Black soap was also got from the market. Commercial antiseptic soaps and creams: Meriko, Mekako, Septol, Delta and Dettol; Tribact, Tricutan, funbact A, Sivoderm and Acneaway and broad spectrum standard antibiotic served for comparative and control purposes. Bacteria isolates from the black soap sources are Bacillus brevis and Bacillus megaterium. Fungal isolates: Chrysosporiumspp and Aspergilusgranulosuswere isolated from the black soap market sample; Aspergilusflavusfrom black soap with honey. Plasmid profiling of the bacteria revealed the presence of plasmids. B. brevis contained plasmid with an estimated molecular weight of 17578bp. Proximate analysis of the honey revealed they contain high organic matter. Physicochemical properties of the black soaps showed they are suitable for bathing as evident in their Total Fatty Matter (TFM%) of 72.107 and 48.314 for market sampled black soap, black soap with honey respectively. The antagonism assay indicated that B. brevis and B. megaterium inhibited the growth of E. coli, and S. epidermidis with inhibition zones ranging from 15-34 mm. Black soap had more inhibitory effects on all the pathogens. Black soap with honey had the highest inhibition zone of 17.83 mm on Candida albicansATCC-10261followed by the black soap market sample at 15.83mm on the same organism.Antimicrobial activities of the black soap and the antagonistic potentials on the following skin pathogens: Escherichia coli, Klebsiellapneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidisPseudomonas aeruginosa,Trichophytonrubrum, Candida albicans,Escherichia coli ATCC-25922, Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC-11930,Staphylococcus aureus ATCC-25923,Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC-12228, Pseudomonas aeruginosaATCC-27853and Candida albicansATCC-10261were investigated using agar diffusion method. Black soap was prepared using ashes from dried plantain skin by saponification and then fortified with honey at 20g/250ml of molten soap before allowing it to cure in a mould for two weeks. Black soap was also got from the market. Commercial antiseptic soaps and creams: Meriko, Mekako, Septol, Delta and Dettol; Tribact, Tricutan, funbact A, Sivoderm and Acneaway and broad spectrum standard antibiotic served for comparative and control purposes. Bacteria isolates from the black soap sources are Bacillus brevis and Bacillus megaterium. Fungal isolates: Chrysosporiumspp and Aspergilusgranulosuswere isolated from the black soap market sample; Aspergilusflavusfrom black soap with honey. Plasmid profiling of the bacteria revealed the presence of plasmids. B. brevis contained plasmid with an estimated molecular weight of 17578bp. Proximate analysis of the honey revealed they contain high organic matter. Physicochemical properties of the black soaps showed they are suitable for bathing as evident in their Total Fatty Matter (TFM%) of 72.107 and 48.314 for market sampled black soap, black soap with honey respectively. The antagonism assay indicated that B. brevis and B. megaterium inhibited the growth of E. coli, and S. epidermidis with inhibition zones ranging from 15-34 mm. Black soap had more inhibitory effects on all the pathogens. Black soap with honey had the highest inhibition zone of 17.83 mm on Candida albicansATCC-10261followed by the black soap market sample at 15.83mm on the same organism.