Formulation, Quality and Antimicrobial Activity of Ointments and Soaps Based on the Bark Extracts of Ziziphus mauritiana and Ziziphus mucronata

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the quality and antimicrobial activity of soaps and ointments enriched with aqueous ethanol extracts from barks of Ziziphus mauritiana and Ziziphus mucronata. The galenic formulation allowed the development of ointments as well as soap based on aqueous ethanol extract (70%, v/v) using some excipients. The consistency of the ointments was slightly hard but softens immediately on contact with the skin. The preparation method allowed to get a very good homogeneity with a regular distribution of the extracts. The ointments were stable and no changes on the surface was observed. The ointments were found slight acidic, with pH values varying from 5 to 5.59. It was noticed that enriched soaps displayed neutral pH values neutral varying from 7.28 to 7.49. Moreover, the soap enriched with Z. mauritiana (84%) was more foaming in saline environment than that enriched with Z. mucronata (61.53%). Both bark extract-enriched ointments and soaps displayed excellent antimicrobial activity against fungi and bacteria found on the skin and hands.