Formulation and evaluation of organic handwash prepared from herbal extracts

Abstract

The scientific study linked to the physical, chemical, biological, and structural characterization of drugs along with their history of cultivation, collection and preparation for marketing and preservation, is defined as pharmacognosy. The cardinal routes of the entry of various infections into our body are our hands. The infection caused thereby causes a spectrum of diseases, especially in children. To get rid of such infections, regular washing of hands after specific time intervals holds imperative cognizance of getting rid of such infectious diseases. The handwash available in the local markets is mainly composed of various chemical compounds which might pose several threats to our skin. In this notion, the search for alternate components for handwash preparation that are organic in nature and do not cause any damage to our skin has been in the research limelight for the past few years. Accordingly, in this research, an attempt has been made to prepare a skin-friendly handwash containing the essential extracts of various ingredients like Aloe vera, turmeric, honey, tulsi, lemon, etc., and thereby their antimicrobial and antiseptic efficacy were evaluated. The basis of the evaluation was set using multivariate criteria like odour, colour, viscosity, pH, foam height and retention, and grittiness. Finally, the skin irritation test was also carried out along with a few other parameters to draw conclusions regarding the suitability of the handwash for human usage. The obtained results were found within the desired ranges without the presence of any adverse side effects. Thus, the proposed scheme of this study may be regarded as an excellent approach to combat the harmful effects of commercial chemicals containing handwash and, thereby, will be beneficial to various stakeholders.