Abstract

Objective: To investigate its comparative antibacterial action with the indigenous black soap. Methods: In the present study, comparative antibacterial activities of different indigenous black soaps and ethanol leave extracts of Ficus exasperata (vahl) on Staphylococcus aureus , Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC-25923, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC-27853, Escherichia coli ATCC-25922, and Klebsiella pne umoniae ATCC-11930, were assayed by agar diffusion method. Results: Black soaps demonstrated higher inhibitory effects on all the bacterial pathogens. Black soap with brown eggshell powder had the highest inhibition zone of 15.83 mm on Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC-11930. Similar effects were also observed with Staphylococcus a ureus ATCC-25923 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC27853. P. aeruginosa, E. coli and K. pneumoniae were found to be sensitive to concentrations of the crude e xtract at 50 mg/ml and upwards. P. aeruginosa showed highest inhibition of 12.0 mm and 18.68 mm at conce ntrations to the tune of 100 mg/ml and125 mg/ml respe ctively. Conclusions: Antibacterial activities of the indigenous black soap and leaf extracts of Ficus exasperata (vahl) on skin pathogens have shown that Ficus exasperata (vahl) could be used as additiv e in the indigenous black soap at the considered concentrations in order to synergistically enhance its potency.