CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

As soap making is part of western world, African is not entirely left out. In African, traditional soap (native soap) is known with different names from various regions of the continent. For instance, in the western part of African, native soap is known as Anago soap or Alata simena in Ghana, and in Nigeria, it is known by the Hausa as Sabilum-salo, the Yoruba as Ose-dudu and in Igbo as Ncha-Nkota. Traditional medicine can be described as total combination of knowledge, practice and belief incorporating plant , animals and minerals based medicine whether explicable or not, used in diagnosing, preventing or eliminating a physical, mental or social diseases and which may rely exclusively on past experience handed down from generation to generation either verbally or in writing (David, 2005; Sofowora, 1982). The traditional African Native soap which has in combination, water, roasted plantain skin or cocoa pod, palm oil, palm kernel oil, or Shea butter, when put together, are collectively referred to as “native soap”. African Native soap or native soap is a natural source of vitamin A and E, and iron (Grieve, 1997). Depending on where it is manufactured, native soap contains leaves and bark from plantains, Shea tree bark, cocoa pods or palm tree leaves. The leaves and bark are sun dried and then slow-roasted in a kettle or pot, then various oils, including coconut oil, Shea butter and palm kernel oil are stirred into the mixture. The soap is then allowed to cure for at least two weeks before it is ready for use (Bella, 2008). Native soap made with Shea butter offers protection against UV rays while native soap made with plantains contains a high concentration of iron along with vitamins A and E (Treehugger, 2008).

African native soap has numerous benefits and importance. Native soap enjoys a reputation for improving or eliminating uneven skin tone, razor bumps caused by ingrown hairs and skin rashes. It is not scented and can be used by anyone who wishes to improve the quality of his/her skin. It is excellent for clearing up oily skin, acne price for its antiseptics properties. African people also use native soap to prevent the skin from rashes, ring worm, measles, and eczema and body odor. It is used as a natural shampoo to avoid dry itchy scalp. Native soap is used in the treatment of many infectious diseases caused by micro-organisms. Native soap is highly thought of; it is used in African for spiritual purification. (Karen, 2004; Jones, 2001).

The skin is the outer surface of the body. It is inhabited by quite a large population of microorganisms (Fry, 1978). The skin acts as both physical and chemical barrier against penetration of these microorganisms into the inner tissues. But this barrier is often impaired by inflammation of the skin and over-hydration (Mackie, 1981). This situation increases its porosity and makes it more susceptible to penetration by microorganisms, leading to such diseases like boils, impetigo, facial folliculities of infants, rashes and other skin blemishes (Marks, 1976). Skin infections caused by microorganism are common and are increasingly assuming an alarming proportion. These infections are sources of discomfort, embarrassment and sometimes leads to psychological distress (Pegum and Backer, 1979). Many methods are adopted in the treatment of skin diseases such as the use of topical ointments and antibiotics. Dermatological therapy may be external and internal. The accessibility of the skin lesion makes topical therapy the easiest and often the most important mode of treatment (Orlando, 1982). Among the topical medicaments employed is the use of medicated soaps.

Soap is a cleaning agent made by the chemical action of alkali on fats or fatty acids. This chemical action yields the sodium or potassium salts of these acids (Considine, 1974). Soap acts as both active medication as well as vehicle for incorporation of other active substances (Grayson, 1983). It also has other roles in the treatment of skin diseases such as cooling, drying, hydration, crust removal and scale removal (Schwartz, 1979). It is now an established fact that soaps to which bacteriostatic agents are added will be satisfactory in reducing the bacterial flora of the cutaneous surfaces (Chambers Encyclopedia, 1978).

For centuries, both the Ghanians and Nigerians have used native soap to help relieve acne, oily skin, clear blemishes and various other skin issues. They have been employed to get rid of skin rashes, ringworm, measles and body odours (Adelakun, 1990). African native soap is full of vitamins and emollients perfect for cleansing deeply, exfoliating gently and moisturizing thoroughly. It is hypoallergenic and so it is a great choice for temper mental skin or those prone to rashes (Ukatta, 1991).

However, despite widespread use of plant resources (native soap) in traditional medicine practice, bioassay analysis of this product to investigate their medicinal properties and to ascertain safety and efficacy of traditional remedies are lacking.

1.1  AIM OF THE STUDY

This research is aimed at determining;

1. The antimicrobial effect of locally produced native soap sold in Edo and Delta states.
2. The antimicrobial activity of conventional soaps.

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