Antibacterial Potential of African Black Soap Decoctions against Selected Clinical Isolates

Abstract

Africa black soap is widely use in Africa. This study aimed at examining antibacterial potential of African black soap and its different decoction preparations against selected bacterial agents. Soap sample was collected and prepared into three different decoctions (i.e. black soap only, black soap with aloe vera and black soap, cam wood and lime water).  Afterwards, different concentrations of 200 mg/ml, 100 mg/ml, 50 mg/ml, and 25mg/ml of each decoction preparation were prepared. Antibacterial activities of each decoction concentration against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Bacillus subtilis was carried out using agar well diffusion method. The result revealed that black soap with cam wood and lime water at 200mg/ml tested against Streptococcus pneumoniae had the highest (26.5 mm) zones of inhibition while at similar concentration black soap with aloe vera showed zone of inhibition of 24.5 mm, 23 mm, and 21.5 mm against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus subtilis, respectively. Black soap only showed lowest inhibitory activities compared to other mixtures because at 200mg/ml, zone of inhibition of 18.5 mm, 17.5 mm and 12.5 mm against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus pneumonia and E. coli, respectively were observed. This study has shown that African black soap mixed with the tested mixtures could have a better synergetic effect in inhibiting different types of pathogenic bacteria compared to using the soap only, therefore, could have potential ability to increasing the antimicrobial properties of the soap during usage. Hence, addition could improve Africa black soap quality by indigenous companies.