Research Article :
Olasan JO, Yandev
D,
Aguoru CU, Ukaonu
C and Obaje
C This research was
undertaken to test the efficacy of three locally used plant products (shear
butter, palm kernel oil and black soap) and their synergistic combinations
against selected skin microbes. One hundred and twenty (120) swab sticks were
used to collect skin associated organisms from body parts (leg, knee, head,
chest, face, back, armpit and areas affected by heat rashes) among volunteers
with Makurdi metropolis, Nigeria. Microbial culture, identification and
sensitivity tests followed standard microbiological practices. Identified
genera were: Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus, Bacillus, Escherichia, Mucor,
Aspergillus, Penicillium, Saccharomyces, Candida and Epidermophyton conidia.
Inhibitory effect of the locally used products was compared with known orthodox
medicated soaps (OMS) as control. As a result, most of the microbes resisted
shear butter (SB only) except Candida and Saccharomyces. Palm kernel oil (PKO
only) was effective against all microbes except Bacillus. All isolates were
sensitive to Black soap (BS only). SB+PKO were 80% effective whereas SB+BS were
90% effective while BS+PKO were 100% effective against all microbes. Only one
of the three OMS was 100% effective on skin isolates. Black soap has proven
more effective than the two popularly used medicated soaps against skin
microflora. Palm kernel oil was also highly effective but 100% efficacy was
observed when it mixed with black soap. It was due to their synergistic effect.
Shear butter was the least effective but its antiseptic action may be enhanced
when mixed with black soap. The information provided is useful in the discovery
of cheap and effective natural products in the prevention and treatment of
dermatophytic infections in Nigeria. From
time past, human has continued to depend on plant products to treat ailments
(Aguoru et al., 2015a, 2015b, 2015c Getradeghana, 2000). As a result of
civilization, these plant products previously used in crude forms had suffered
neglect not because of ineffectiveness but also due to humans preference for
social acceptance for western orthodox products (Aguoru et al., 2014, 2015d).
Microbial resistance to these orthodox products in treating skin diseases, for
example, has been a challenge. Apart from this, most orthodox soaps and
ointments are expensive to come by as many are imported into Nigeria. Many
users also suffer some degree of allergic reactions (Tarum et al., 2014) apart
from known destructive effects of some products in the skin caused by chemical
additives. Therefore, many people have recommended the use of locally made
plant products as a better substitute for orthodox products in terms of
efficiency, cost effectiveness, availability and skin protection (Balogun and Owoseeni,
2013). Dermatological benefits of crude shear butter (obtained from Vitellaria
paradoxa), palm kernel oil (obtained from Elaeis guineensis) and black soap
(made from cocoa pods (Theobroma cacao) have been reported (Balogun and
Owoseeni, 2013 Getradeghana, 2000 Ikotun et al., 2017a). Despite
the above attributes, most people in the urban areas, especially students and
corporate workers preferred orthodox types because of fragrance, attractiveness
and antisepsis (Tarum et al., 2014). According to Getradeghana (2000), locally
made skin products are produced and more acceptable by the rural dwellers.
Though these products are available in the urban areas, they are seldom
patronized. Skin related infections such as eczema, leprosy, scabies, and leishmaniasis
are a major public health challenge in developing countries (World Health
Organisation, 2018). They are mostly caused by bacteria and fungi exacerbated
by lack of proper hygiene. This research was undertaken to test the efficacy of
three locally used plant products (shear butter, palm kernel oil, black soap
and their combinations) against skin isolates, and compare the results with
those obtained using orthodox medicated soaps. One
hundred and twenty swab sticks were used to collect skin associated organisms
from body parts (leg, knee, head, chest, face, back, armpit and areas affected
by heat rashes) among volunteers with Makurdi metropolis, Nigeria. Inoculation
was done first on general purpose media. Pure culturing took place on selective
media types (Nutrient agar, Sabourad dextrose agar, Maltes extract agar and
Potato dextrose agar) following standard practices. Microbial culture,
identification and sensitivity tests followed standard microbiological
practices. Identification of isolates was done by cultural and biochemical
methods. Freshly prepared black soap, palm kernel oil and shear butter as well
as three medicated soaps were purchased from North bank market, Makurdi.
Inhibitory antiseptic effects of locally used products carried out. Results
were compared with antiseptic effects of known orthodox medicated soaps (OMS)
as control. Seven plant treatments were tested: Shear butter (SB), Palm kernel
oil (PKO), Black soap (BS), Shear butter (SB) + Palm kernel oil (PKO, Shear
butter (SB) + Black soap (BS) and Black soap (BS) + Palm kernel oil (PKO).
Three orthodox soaps tested were: OMS1, OMS2 and OMS3. Identified
skin microorganisms were: Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus, Bacillus, Escherichia,
Mucor, Aspergillus, Penicillium, Saccharomyces, Candida and Epidermophyton
conidia (Table 1). Effect of single treatment application is given in (Table
2). Most of the microbes resisted shear butter (SB only) except Candida and
Saccharomyces. Palm kernel oil (PKO only) was effective against all microbes
except Bacillus. All isolates were sensitive to Black soap (BS only). (Table
3) presents the synergistic effects of plant extracts on skin isolates. SB+PKO
were 80% effective whereas SB +BS were 90% effective. BS+PKO were 100%
effective against all microbes. Only one of the three OMS (OMS 1) was 100%
effective on skin isolates as given in (Table 4). As shown in Table 5, Black
soap has proven more effective than the two popularly used medicated soaps to fight
against skin microflora. Palm kernel oil was also highly effective but 100%
efficacy was observed when mixed with black soap due to their synergistic
effect. Shear butter was the least effective (20% sensitivity) but it clearly
inhibited Candida and Saccharomyces (Figure 1). Its antiseptic action may be
enhanced to 80% when mixed with PKO or 90% when mixed with black soap, although
shear butter synergy had less significance on Bacillus subtilis (Figure 2).
BS+PKO were confirmed equal to or better than some OMS tested against only five
of the isolates namely: Pseudomonas spp., S. aureus, Bacillus spp., C. albicans
and Saccharomyces spp. (Figure 3). Present
report is consistent with previous investigations on the use of natural plant
products to kill skin microbes (Balogun and Owoseeni, 2013 Ikotun et al., 2017a
Ugbogu, 2006). Ikotun et al. (2017a) reported the significance of naturally
occurring additives against skin microbes including S. aureus, B. aureus, P.
aeruginosa and Escherichia coli. Phytochemical studies have shown that these
plant products are rich in saponin, flavonoid and terpenoid which are
considered highly antimicrobial (Ikotun et al., 2017a). The structural
chemistry of the African black soap made from palm kernel oil (Elaeis guineensis)
and cocoa pods (Theobroma cacao) have been studied (Ikotun et al., 2017b). The
outcome revealed quality physicochemical parameters of desirable of excellent
soap and the presence of transition metal complexes. The African black soap is
a natural source of vitamin A, vitamin E and iron (Grieve, 1997). It also
contains fatty acids like beta carotene, lauric, caprylic, oleic and linoleic
acids. The vitamin A and E content balance the skin pH levels (Ugbogu, 2006).
Palm kernel oil has long shelf life and zero cholesterol. It is loaded with
antioxidant, unsaturated fats, vitamin K. It has been reported to: prevent
aging, increase hair growth, soften the skin and tackle body odor (Grieve,
1997). The unique properties mentioned above may be responsible for the potent
antimicrobial action of the natural plant products observed in the present
report. Black
soap has proven more effective than the two out of three popularly used
medicated soaps in the combating skin microflora. Palm kernel oil was also highly
effective but 100% efficacy was observed when it mixed with black soap due to
their synergistic effect. Shear butter was the least effective but its
antiseptic action may be enhanced when mixed with black soap. Mixture of palm
kernel oil and palm kernel oil was confirmed equal to or better than some
orthodox medicated soaps tested against only five of the isolates namely:
Pseudomonas spp., S. aureus, Bacillus spp., C. albicans and Saccharomyces spp.
The information provided is useful in the search for cheap, effective natural
products in the prevention and treatment of common dermatophytic infections in
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Abstract
Full-Text
Introduction
Materials
and Methods
Results
and Discussion
Conclusion
References
Keywords
