HERBAL SOAP WITH PIPER BETLE AGAINST STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS: EXTRACTION AND FORMULA-TION

Abstract

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a widespread pathogen responsible for various skin infections globally, regardless of age, climate, or geographic location. As a result, there is growing interest in the development of herbal-based skin cleansing products with antibacterial activity against this bacterium. This study aimed to identify potential medicinal herbs from An Giang Province capable of inhibiting S. aureus. The investigation focused on three herbal extracts—fish mint, bitter melon, and betel leaf—and three essential oils derived from grapefruit peel, tea tree, and betel leaf. The betel leaf extract and essential oil exhibited the strongest antibacterial activity, with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 2500 ppm and 6.3 ppm, respectively (compared to 0.2 ppm chloramphenicol as a positive control). The chemical constituents of betel leaf were characterized using LC-MS and GC-MS, identifying 25 compounds in the essential oil and 22 compounds in the extract. Based on these findings, an antibacterial herbal soap formulation containing betel leaf extract and essential oil was successfully developed in accordance with TCVN 2224:1991 standards, highlighting its potential for practical application as a natural antibacterial skin cleanser.