Abstract

Soaps and other cleansing agents have been around for quite a long time, a medical document from about 1500 B.C. shows that Egyptians combined animal and vegetable oils with alkaline salts to form a soap-like material used for treating skin diseases, as well as for washing and  Scrubbing body or hands. The objective of this study is to evaluate the potency and the antibacterial activity of medicated soap and Natural plant extracts used to make soaps against some selected common human pathogens. A total of 7 different brands of the most commonly used medicated soaps were randomly collected /purchased from shops, drug stores, and pharmacies in Hyderabad during the study period. And also 3 natural extracts were collected from Ayurvedic shops.  Evaluation was carried out by disk diffusion method. 

The result shows the inhibition of the growth of the test organisms by these medicated soaps and natural extracts used to make them, showing varying degree of antimicrobial activity over a period of time. This study shows the effectiveness and potency of the use of medicated soap, which could help in reducing the rate at which germ is being spread in the society as a matter of good personal hygiene, which could inadvertently help reduce mortality rate.

Keywords: Pathogen, Antibacterial, Inhibition, Medicated soaps, Natural plant extracts.