Antagonistic Activities of Microorganisms Associated with Indigenous Black Soap on Some Selected Skin Pathogens

Introduction: The indigenous black soap has been reported to possess antimicrobial activities. The aim of this research is to screen three different indigenous black soaps for extremophiles and then investigate their antagonistic effects on selected skin associated pathogens.

Methods: Microbiological analyses of three different indigenous black soap samples were investigated using serial dilution technique. Antagonistic activities of Bacillus vedderi, Bacillus faraginis, Chrysosporium spp, Aspergilus granulosus, Aspergilus flavus and Ramulispora javanicus microbial isolates from indigenous black soaps on clinical test pathogens: Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Trichophyton rubrum, Candida albicans, were investigated by co-culture method. Physicochemical analysis of the black soap was accomplished according to standard analytical methods. Analysis of variance (anova) was performed followed by Duncan multiple range post hoc tests, considered the value p =.05.

Results: Antagonism assay showed that B. vedderi and B. faraginis inhibited the growth of E. coli, and S. epidermidis with inhibition zones ranging from 15-34 mm. Fungal isolates do not show antagonism towards the test isolates. Physicochemical properties of the black soaps implied they provide an extreme environment as evident in their pH of 10.30, 10.82 and10.43 respectively.

Conclusion: Antimicrobial activities of indigenous black soap could be as a result of its bacterial flora. These extremophiles could be source of unique metabolites of clinical appraisal.