Antibacterial Activity of an Effective Essential Oil Formulated in Liquid Soap Against Skin Bacteria

Skin bacterial flora consisting of Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa can frequently cause either skin or systemic infection including the bacterial transmission in healthcare units and household. The aims of this study were to determine susceptibility of these skin bacteria to the essential oils distilled from Citrus hystrix DC. (kaffir lime) peel, Cymbopogon citratus Stapf. (lemongrass) grass, Cinnamomum zeylamicum Nees (cinnamon) bark, Ocimum basilicum L. (sweet basil) leaves, Alpinia galanga (L.) Willd. (galanga) and Zingiber officinale Rosc (ginger) rhizome and to develop liquid soap from a selected essential oil. The results revealed that cinnamon oil possessed the highest activity against all bacterial strains. Cinnamon oil liquid soap was more effective against Gram positive bacteria than Gram negative bacteria by day 90. In conclusion, the developed cinnamon oil liquid soap was a good candidate to eracidate the skin bacterial flora especially, Gram positive bacteria. However, this preparation should be stored at room temperature with protection from natural light to extend product shelf-life and skin irritation test of this liquid soap should be further studied.