Plasmid Profiles of Extremophiles Associated with Indigenous Black Soaps and Functional Groups Present

Abstract

In the present study, plain indigenous black soap market sample and black soap fortified with brown and white eggshell powder effectively at 20 g/250 mL of molten soap were analyzed microbiologically using standard method after which the bacterial isolates were profiled for presence of plasmid. Structural elucidation of the black soaps was achieved by Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GCMS) analysis of the methylated fraction. Fungal isolates from plain black soap were Chrysosporium spp. and Aspergillus granulosus while the bacterial isolate: Bacillus vedderi contained plasmid with an estimated molecular weight of 17578 bp. Ramulispora javanicus and Aspergilus flavus while Bacillus vedderi and Bacillus faraginis were fungal isolates were also recorded from black soap fortified with brown and white eggshell powder, respectively. The GCMS analysis revealed fatty acid as the predominant functional group. Plasmid presence in these bacteria may confer extremophily status on them and thus aid their survival in this environment. Antimicrobial activities of the indigenous black in folkloric applications may be predicated on the presence of its fatty acid compounds.