Formulation and evaluation of saponin based alcohol - free polyherbal hand sanitizer

Abstract

Sanitization is essential in limiting the spread of infectious diseases. Alcohol based sanitizer formulations consist of toxic compounds that are harmful to human health and not environmentally friendly. The purpose of the current research is to formulate a bio-derived alcohol-free hand sanitizer. Saponins are secondary metabolites that are stored in the roots of many plant species, where they may act as antimicrobial phytoprotectants. Saponins were extracted by Soxhlet extractor using methanol as solvent. Saponins were tested for their individual, synergetic antimicrobial (Agar plate diffusion method and Minimum inhibitory concentration) and anti-oxidant (Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) assay) activity. The polyherbal sanitizer was formulated using saponins as the principal ingredient. It was evaluated for its physical parameters and antimicrobial properties. The synergistic effect of saponins was higher when compared to the individual saponins’ antimicrobial activity. The formulated polyherbal sanitizer evinced acceptable organoleptic properties with slightly acidic pH and demonstrated antimicrobial properties against selected microorganisms with maximum activity against Staphylococcus aureus (concentration =100 µl, zone of inhibition diameter = 24±1 mm). The antimicrobial efficacy of the formulated sanitizer was comparable to that of a commercially available hand sanitizer.