Abstract
Saponification process is used in soap making. Plant extracts contribute to this process by adding aroma and health benefits. Bar soaps can be made by the saponification process, along with the contribution of plant extract materials. It was recognized that temperature affects the manufacturing of soaps, their quality, and scent. Plant extracts consists of secondary metabolites which possess antimicrobial properties that may influence the function of soaps. This area is becoming popular in today’s technologized and entrepreneurial era.
Introduction
The saponification process involves converting esters into soap, it involves combining triglycerides with a strong base (NaOH) to form fatty acid metal salts (Vidal et al., 2018; Farmer, 2019). Secondary metabolites are products produced by plants that make them competitive in their own environment and are not directly involved in the normal growth, development, and reproduction of the plant system (Secondary Metabolite - an Overview | ScienceDirect Topics, n.d.). An experiment was done by Vidal et al. (2018), to determine the effect of cold saponification on saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. They utilized three plant extracts: hibiscus, rosemary, and forest grove to make three soaps and incorporated plant oils or essential oils along with vegetable oils. This added to their goal of making herbal soaps.
Neem is a tree from the Meliaceae family and is known for its medicinal or healing capabilities and is mostly known as an antiseptic. Its botanical name is Azadirachta indica (Neem, 1992). It is effective against fungi that affect the human body as well as certain pathogenic bacteria. It is known by herbal healers and individuals that make traditional medicines; therefore, it has the potential to fight against pathogens that may affect the body at any given stage. Moreover, Francine et al. (2015) conducted a study to test the antimicrobial activity of leaf and bark extracts of neem. Extracts were tested against E. coli and S.aureus bacteria, that are known to be resistant to various antibiotics. The experiment showed that neem has an antibacterial effect.
Discussion
The saponification process is a hydration reaction and is used to make a variety of soaps, so the process can be altered to facilitate the type of soap that an individual wants to make. It was shown that temperature affects soap making, that is, the trace, color, texture, and scent (Temperature Archives, 2016). This is because the higher the temperature, the higher the water content in the soap (Pramadhanti & Dianursanti, 2019). Plants are used because of their essential nutrients, and their rich multipurpose oils that facilitate cures for skin treatments. Therefore, the use of plant extracts such as neem in the soap-making process could be necessary in healthcare products and industries because it promotes better skincare; that is, it would be used as an antibacterial soap. In today’s society, skincare plays a huge role, for example, people are always searching for new remedies to get rid of blemishes. Plants possess antimicrobial properties and as such, they can contribute to this developing area. Moreover, these are natural organisms that produce secondary metabolites that are essential in making cures for diseases. Also, soaps made from plant oils dissolve easily and produce great lather, scents also play a huge role in this process (Soaps, n.d.).
The use of plant extracts in the local cosmetic industry would be a promising field because plants are readily available. Their remedies work, they are natural and environmentally friendly. It has the potential to be a huge success, especially in Jamaica where individuals rely heavily on natural products to treat skin problems and hair problems. On the other hand, because they are natural and may involve planting these plants, items would be expensive for the locals. Also, if they can acquire the plant in its natural form it would pose as a problem to buy at a high price. It is vital in today’s society, to highlight the importance of plants and their multipurpose uses.
By Khaylia Brown
References
Farmer, S. (2019, February 23). Saponification. Chemistry LibreTexts. https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Organic_Chemistry/Supplemental_Modules_(Organic_Chemistry)/Esters/Reactivity_of_Esters/Saponification
Francine, U., Jeannette, U., & Pierre, R. (2015). Assessment of antibacterial activity of Neem plant (Azadirachta indica) on Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. ~ 85 ~ Journal of Medicinal Plants Studies, 3(4), 85–91. https://www.plantsjournal.com/archives/2015/vol3issue4/PartB/1-5-17.1.pdf
Neem, N. R. C. (US) P. on. (1992). The Tree. Www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov; National Academies Press (US). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK234651
Pramadhanti, D., & Dianursanti. (2019). Effect of increasing reaction temperature on quality of VCO and microalgae Spirulina platensis-based anti-bacterial soap. AIP Conference Proceedings. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5139329
Secondary Metabolite - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics. (n.d.). Www.sciencedirect.com. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/secondary-metabolite
Soaps. (n.d.). Www.fs.usda.gov. Retrieved August 6, 2023, from https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/ethnobotany/soaps.shtml#:~:text=Two%20palms%2C%20the%20coconut%20palm
temperature Archives. (2016, June 20). Soap Queen. https://www.soapqueen.com/tag/temperature/#:~:text=Temperature%20plays%20a%20very%20important
Vidal, N. P., Adigun, O. A., Pham, T., Mumtaz, A., Manful, C., Callahan, G., Stewart, P., Keough, D., & Thomas, R. (2018). The Effects of Cold Saponification on the Unsaponified Fatty Acid Composition and Sensory Perception of Commercial Natural Herbal Soaps. Molecules, 23(9), 2356. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules23092356
コメント