Production and Investigation of the Antiseptic Properties of Soaps Made from the Barks, Seeds and Leaves Extracts of Neem Tree
U. F. Mohammed *
Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, Federal University, Birnin Kebbi, P.M.B. 1157, Kebbi State, Nigeria.
A. Danmallan
Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, Federal University, Birnin Kebbi, P.M.B. 1157, Kebbi State, Nigeria.
M. H. Ahmed
National Board for Technology Business Incubation (NBTI), Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The main aim of this work is to investigate the antiseptic properties of Azadirachta indica (Neem) tree parts (leaves, barks and seeds). The extracts were used in the production of soap samples of various concentrations (20 mg/cm3, 15 mg/cm3, 10 mg/cm3 and 5 mg/cm3). Inhibitory Activity sensitivity test using Agar-well Diffusion Method was employed to test the antibacterial activities of the soap samples on two bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus bacteria and Propionibacterium acnes. The results show that soap samples from the Neem parts exhibited antiseptic properties against the bacteria tested. According to the results, the Neem bark soap produces the highest level of effectiveness across the entire concentration spectrum, followed by the Neem seed soap. The Neem leaves soap produced the lowest level of effectiveness against the two bacteria. The order of effectiveness of the soap samples is: NBRK (Neem barks) > NSED (Neem seeds) > NLVS (Neem leaves). The commercial soap (NRMS) used as a control sample did not exhibit antibacterial activity against the two microbes.
Keywords: Neem, Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, propionibacterium acnes, antimicrobial activities