Abstract
Hand sanitizer (HS) usage, prevents infections of transient microflora, while alcohol-based Hand Sanitizers are currently used widely.
The high level of alcohol in the WHO-recommended HS(75%) could cause dry skin. The aim of this study was to develop a herbal HS using a leaf extract of Mimosa pudica L. with a reduced alcohol content (40%).
The newly developed herbal HS was both effective against tested transient and resident bacterial and fungal flora on hands and was consumer acceptable although its colour may be improved.
The alcohol content of this herbal HS should be sufficient to reduce the spread of COVID-19, as SARS-CoV-2 is recorded to be inhibited by a minimum of 30% alcohol
The objective of the present study was to use the guidelines given for the preparation of an HS by the WHO and develop a herbal HS with a crude alcoholic leaf extract of M. pudica and a reduced level (40%) of isopropyl alcohol, and increased level of glycerol (5%) to test its activity against transient bacterial and fungal microflora of the skin
Conclusion
While the newly developed HS inhibited major clinically important microorganisms present in the hand flora, it showed good acceptability among users, except for its colour. In the pre-covid era, much emphasis has been on controlling microorganisms of surgical site infections and nosocomial infections and the reference alcohol-based hand rub has been specified to contain isopropyl alcohol at 60% (v/v) (WHO, 2009)
Also, this formulation with reduced alcohol would be ideal to avoid the adverse effects of alcohol, while also minimizing the cost of alcohol and in turn the cost of production, as the herbal extract would not cost as much while being ecofriendly
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