MICROBIOLOGICAL STUDIES ON PLANT EXTRACTS USED IN SOME COSMETIC. PREPARATIONS

Abstract

Eight cosmetic preparations namely skin cream, hair cream, body lotion, sunscreen .lotion, hair conditioner, shampoo, shaving cream, and tooth paste were inoculated with 5 microorganisms (Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, E. coli, Aspergillus niger, Candida alhicans or a microbial mixture isolated from different cosmetics. The effect of different plant extracts (cinchona bark, sandal complex, green tea, orange, pineapple, lime blossom, spruce needle, sea weed, papaya, kiwi, cranberry, grape fruit, passion, peach, alpine herbs, Aloe vera and cotton seed milk) in different concentrations as alternatives of chemical preservative used in cosmetics (methyl and propyl paraben) was examined during 90 days after inoculation. Minimal inhibitory concentrations of each of plant extract was determined against tested microorganisms. Stability of the 8 cosmetic preparations (pH, viscosity and microbial load) was estimated during 3 years after processing. Active ingredients of each plant extract (sterols, glycosides, tannins, antocyanines, flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenes, saponins, lactones and anthraquinones) were detected using thin-layer chromato-graphy technique. It was found that the most effective plant extracts against tested microorganisms were cinchona bark, sandal complex, sea weed, spruce needle, passion and alpine herb in relatively low concentrations (ranged from 2-5%), while Aloe vera extract