Formulation and Evaluation of Antimicrobial Herbal Soap Incorporating Bioactive Compounds from Azadirachta indica (Neem)

Background and Objective: Synthetic soaps often contain harsh chemicals that can cause skin irritation and environmental pollution. To promote a safer and more sustainable alternative, this study focused on the formulation of herbal soap using Azadirachta indica (neem) leaf extract, known for its antimicrobial and therapeutic properties. The main objective was to produce an eco-friendly soap and assess its physicochemical properties and antimicrobial efficacy against selected pathogenic microorganisms. Materials and Methods: Fresh neem leaves were collected from the Federal Polytechnic Kaura Namoda campus and subjected to ethanol extraction to obtain the crude extract. Herbal soaps were formulated using varying concentrations of neem extract (10, 20, and 30%). Phytochemical screening was performed to identify active compounds, while physicochemical parameters such as moisture content, total fatty matter, free alkali, free fatty acid, chloride content, pH, foam height, and hardness were determined according to ISO/AOAC standards. Antimicrobial activity was assessed against Staphylococcus aureusand Escherichia coli using the agar diffusion method, and inhibition zones were measured to determine the efficacy of each soap concentration. Results: Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, saponins, terpenoids, and phenols in the crude extract. All physicochemical parameters of the formulated soaps were within ISO/AOAC standard limits. The antimicrobial test showed that inhibition zones increased with higher concentrations of neem extract. Against E. coli, inhibition zones measured 1.45, 1.46, and 1.65 cm for 10, 20, and 30% concentrations, respectively, while S. aureus exhibited inhibition zones of 1.45, 1.46, and 1.55 cm, respectively. Conclusion: The study demonstrated that Azadirachta indica leaf extract can be effectively utilized to produce eco-friendly herbal soap with notable antimicrobial activity. The 30% neem extract formulation exhibited the highest inhibition against E. coli, confirming its potential as a natural alternative to synthetic soaps. Further research is recommended to optimize formulation stability and assess long-term antimicrobial performance.