There are growing concerns about the chronic and acute effects of synthetic additives such as antibacterial, fragrances, colourants and stabilizing agents used in the production of various household products. Many household products and materials including cosmetic products are reportedly suspected to be carcinogenic with some acting as endocrine disruptors among other effects. Thus, environmental-friendly alternatives such as products that are rich in bioactive phytochemicals are becoming consumers' preferred choice especially in the beauty and cosmetic sector. 'Green' preparation of medicinal soaps devoid of any synthetic additives was made from underutilized tropical seed of Citrus sinensis seed oil and some natural additives comprising of natural honey, Ocimum gratissimum leaves extract, Moringa oleifera seed oil and coconut oil. Precisely, the seed oil of the underexplored C. sinensis was obtained via soxhlet extraction and saponified with natural lye solution at different ratios to produce soaps of varying characteristics. The incorporation of honey and Ocimum gratissimum leaf extract provided additional antimicrobial, antioxidant and fragrance properties. Physico-chemical parameters of the oil and soaps were determined following standard procedures while the fatty acid profile of the trans-esterified oil was determined using GC-MS. The antimicrobial potential of the oil and soaps were assessed using agar diffusion method at concentrations 200 mg/mL and below. Linoleic acid (36%) and oleic acid (27%) were the most prominent in C. sinensis seed oil. The soap had antimicrobial potential comparable to commercial product. The soap samples recorded highest anti-bacteria activities (22.0 AE 1.0-23.0 AE 1.0) against Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis and notable anti-fungi activities (18.0 AE 1.0) against Penicillium notatum and Candida albicans. Additionally, the oil showed moderate anti-parasite (anit-toxoplasma gondii) activity (EC 50 500 μg/mL) but with improved selectivity that precludes oxidative stress while the prepared medicinal soaps exhibited remarkable antioxidant property. The utilization of these locally sourced resources will prevent the daily introduction of synthetic antimicrobial and antioxidant chemicals into the environment. The initiative avail a sustainable production of environmentally-benign cosmetic products besides conversion of waste to wealth agrees which aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

No abstract

Context: Cola gigantea A. Chev. (Sterculiaceae) is an important medicinal tropical flora. Objective: The seed oil of C. gigantea , an underutilized tropical plant was investigated for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti- Toxoplasma, and cytotoxicity activities as well as the chemical composition. Materials and methods: The physicochemical parameters of the seed oil obtained via Soxhlet extraction was determined while the fatty acid and non-fatty acid component were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The antioxidant activity was evaluated using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) assays (10–50 µg/mL) while the anti-inflammatory property was determined through Cell Membrane Stabilization assay. The anti-parasite and cytotoxicity activity were evaluated (0–1000 µg/mL) using Toxoplasma gondii and mammalian cell line assays, respectively. Results: The oil had fatty acids which ranged from C-12 to C-23 with linoleic (18:2) and palmitic acids (16:0) being dominant. The oil had 89.41% unsaturated fatty acids with sterolic acid, an uncommon acetylenic fatty acid reported for the first time. Non-fatty acids obtained include cholesterol (2.12%), campesterol (14.12%), stigmasterol (34.07%) and β-sitosterol (49.68%). The oil had a significantly ( p < 0.05) low scavenging activity against DPPH radicals (IC 50 > 50 µg/mL) compared with ascorbic acid. In contrast, the oil showed better activity against ABTS radicals (IC 50 44.19 ± 6.27 µg/mL) compared with ascorbic acid or quercetin. Furthermore, the oil showed anti- T. gondii and dose-dependent cytotoxicity in HFF cells with selectivity index (IC 50 /EC 50 < 1). Discussion and conclusions: The antioxidant potential of the oil suggests that it may serve as a potential source for various preparations for pharmaceuticals and cosmeceuticals.