Lemongrass & Butterfly Pea Flower Transparent Bathing Bar: A Refreshing Skincare Solution

Soap is a commonly used product that serves numerous functions. Due to the wide range of personal needs and customer preferences, soap products have become quite diverse, including opaque soap, liquid soap, and transparent soap. Opaque soap is a type of regular soap that is solid and not see-through, while liquid soap is in a liquid form. Typically, transparent soap is more costly than other soaps and is generally favored by the upper middle class. Soaps of high quality are influenced by the raw materials used. The primary ingredient for soap production is fats or oils derived from plants and animals. In this study, coconut oil was the oil selected. Coconut oil is easily identified. ^[1] For centuries, soap has been utilized and remains a popular choice as a cleansing agent, a mild antiseptic, and an ingestible remedy for certain types of poisoning. The production of soap occurs through a straightforward process known as saponification, which happens when a fatty acid interacts with an alkali.  The oils and fats utilized in soap production consist of triglycerides. A triglyceride is a compound composed of three fatty acid molecules linked to a single glycerol molecule. The other significant element of soap, lye, is an alkali, or a base (the contrary of an acid, on the pH scale).^[2]

Types of Soaps Based on Usage ^[1]

• Toilet Soaps

• Syndet soaps

• Glycerin Soaps

• Transparent Soaps

• Method of soap making ^[2] :-

1. Melt-and-Pour soap
2. Cold Process Soap
3. Hot Process Soaps
4. Rebatching soap

Characteristics of soap^[2]:

1. Soaps are sodium salts derived from long-chain carboxylic acids.
2. Sodium salts of long-chain benzene sulfonic acids act as detergents.
3. Soaps can be broken down by natural processes, whereas certain detergents cannot be degraded.
4. Soaps possess a comparatively mild cleaning ability, while detergents demonstrate a powerful cleaning effect.
5. We cure all our sold soaps to attain the desired hardness.
6. A soap that is hard to wash off is not a good soap.

Transparent soap:

Transparent soap is a clear type of soap that contains a lot of glycerin. Commonly known as “glycerin soap,” Glycerin acts as a humectant, meaning it draws in moisture. This characteristic of glycerin soap is what renders it more hydrating than opaque soaps with lower glycerin content. Transparent soap is so mild that it is frequently advised for individuals with extremely sensitive skin, including infants, young children, and those with allergies or dermatitis. Soap that contains a high level of glycerin rinses more effectively readily from the skin and does not leave a residue that may lead to irritation. Furthermore, Glycerin soap is usually more affordable than other moisturizing or anti-aging beauty bars. ^[1]

Table No. 1 Idea Range of Good Soap Bar

• Advantages of soap:

1. Cleans the skin
2. Prevent acne and pimples
3. Washing off corrosive acids
4. Removes oil and dirt                             
5. Removal of impurities                               

• Disadvantages of soap:

1. Damages the Skin
2. Affects the Health of The Skin                                                  
3. Disturbs the pH Balance of The Skin   
4. Leads to Dry Skin
5. Destroys Good Microbes

MATERIAL AND METHOD:

1.1 MATERIAL:

1. Glycerine soap base
2. Lemongrass essential oil
3. Butterfly pea flower extract
4. Coconut oil
5. Ethanol (99%)
6. Propylene glycol

1. Glycerin soap base: -

Transparent soaps possess an unclear and luminous surface that feels extremely gentle and silky on the epidermis. The visual aspects and presentation of the Transparent soap gives it a luxurious and rich appearance, unlike other common soaps. Clear glycerin soaps are adaptable and readily adjustable since you can utilize various scents, tinted pigments, vital oils, and so on. Clear soap is essentially a hot process. soap that incorporates solvents (sugar, glycerin, and alcohol) to dissolve the soap crystals that develop permitting light to flow, thus producing clarity. When producing a clear soap recall, select a minimum of 75% solid fats (coconut oil, palm oil, beef fat, pig fat, stearic acid. ^[1]
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    Fig no.1 Glycerin Bathing Bar Base

• Transparent Soap ingredients:-
• Coconut Oil – 150 grams (30%)
• Stearic Acid – 60 grams (12%)
• Avocado Oil – 40 grams (8%)
• Lye – 76 grams (0% superfat to reduce cloudiness)
• Distilled Water – 152 grams (double lye amount)
• Glycerin – 125 grams (25% of oils)
• Denatured Alcohol – 250 grams (50% of oils)                                
• Sugar – 125 grams (25% of oils)
• Water – 83 grams (to create sugar solution)

2. Lemongrass essential oil:-

Lemongrass (Cymbopogon Citrateus) is a component of plants many times in regular medicine and traditional Citronelle essential oil (climbing), large goods obtained from the factory and fclectal activity. In addition, Leo is a common substance used in the production of pharmaceutical products such as antifungal drugs, antidepressants and nausea cure. . It is an individual's fragrant and attractive aroma plants,and it is used in a type of adornment technology (such as perfume, perfume and generally detergent) like although bread (for example, tea, spice of coacker).[3]

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Fig no. 2 Lemongrass essential oil

• Taxonomic classification of lemongrass

Kingdom- Plantae

Order- Poales

Family- Poaceae

Subfamily- Panicoideae

Lemongrass includes about 180 species, such as Cymbopogon Citratus, Cymbopogon Flexuosus, Cymbopogon Winterrianus, Cymbopogon Martinii, Cymbopogon Nardus and Cymbopogon refractive.^[4]

Synonyms: Serai, West Indian LemonGrass, Oil Grass, Fever Grass, Serai Makan, Lemongrass[3]

Geographical source:  Lemongrass is planted and distributed in sub -regions of Africa, Asia, North America, South America, Australia, Oceania.[5]

Chemical composition[6]:

Citronella essential oil is a complex blend of compounds, with citronellal as its primary component, contributing to its characteristic lemon aroma and insect-repellent properties. The oil also contains geraniol and citronellol, both alcohols that enhance its fragrance profile. Other significant constituents include limonene, a monoterpene with a citrus scent, and various minor compounds such as 3-methylcyclohexanol, eucalyptol (1,8-cineole), carotol, globulol, linalool, hinesol, borneol, citronellyl acetate, and citronellyl isobutyrate.

Therapeutic uses: Larvicidal, insecticidal, miticidal, ovicidal, acaricidal, analgesic, aesthetic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antinociceptive, antihypertensive, anti-obesity, anxiolytic, antimutagenicity potential, cardioprotective, antirheumatic, and haematological properties are all possessed by lemongrass oil and extract.[4].

Fig no. 3 Pharmacological action of Lemongrass oil

1. 1. 1. 1. Antimicrobial Potential: Lemongrass extract and oil work well against a wide range of pathogenic microorganisms. LEO has frequently been utilized as an antiviral, antifungal, and antibacterial agent. However, the citral (aldehyde) found in lemongrass oil is widely credited with the plant's antibacterial properties.^[4]
         2. Anti-inflammatory effect: Using the carrageenan-induced rat pas edema model, Costa et al.  investigated the anti-inflammatory effect of various fractions of C. citratus, including flavonoids and tannins. They found that the combination of both fractions reduced the edema volume by approximately 59% because of their richness of bioactive compounds, particularly luteolin , which has been shown to downregulate proinflammatory factors like cytokines, iNOS, TNF-α, IL-ß, and IL-6.^[7]
         3. Antibacterial: Essential oils may often tolerate gram-negative germs better than gram-positive ones. Lemongrass has long been used as a traditional remedy for a variety of illnesses, including "ophthalmia, pneumonia, and vascular problems," coughs, consumption, elephantiasis, and illness. Studies have identified "antidepressant, antioxidant, antiseptic, harsh, decontaminating, fungicidal, nervine, and sedative characteristics" of lemongrass.^[3]
         4. Antioxidant activity: All of the components of C. citratus essential oil work in concert to produce its antioxidant activity. However, according to recent research, the primary terpenoid component of the essential oil ? citral ? also exhibits antioxidant action. This is because the oxidative chain cross-terminates and co-oxidizes with the target substrate. Numerous researchers have examined the antioxidant qualities of lemongrass essential oil; however, there are some differences in the findings, most likely as a result of the plant's varied geographic origin, various extraction techniques, and methodologies used to assess its antioxidant activity.^[6]

Application^[5]:

1. Cosmetic use: Formulations for soaps, detergents, and cosmetics contain lemongrass oil.

2. Food and drinks: Foods like spices, tea leaves, baked goods, confections, and meat and meat products have all been flavored with lemongrass oil.

3. Industrial use: Lemongrass oil is used as an additive ingredient in a variety of products, including as deodorant, candles, polish, waxes, insect and mosquito repellent cream, pesticides, antifungal cream, and fragrances, because of its appealing scent.

4. Agricultural use: There are applications for the oils of several lemongrass species in the manufacturing of bactericides and germicides.

C.  Butterfly Pea Flower Extract:

Clitoria ternatea L., often known as the butterfly pea, belongs to the Fabaceae family. A        well-known Ayurvedic remedy for a number of illnesses is Clitoria ternatea. Butterfly Pea blossoms are blue in shade. This suggests that anthocyanins are present. It can be used to color food or other objects, depending on the use. One of the plants whose entire body benefits from all of its parts is the butterfly pea (Clitoria ternatea L.).

Synonyms: Clitoria albiflora Mattei, Clitoria bracteata Poir. Clitoria mearnsii De Wild., Clitoria tanganicensis Micheli, Clitoria zanzibarensis Vatke.

Biological source : It consist of dried seeds of plant perennial herbaceous belonging into family fabaceae.

Family: Fabaceae.

Genus: Clitoria L.

Species: Clitoria ternatea.

Chemical composition: Clitoria ternatea (CT) contains various bioactive compounds. Its roots have flavonol glycosides, triterpenoids, and sugars like O-β-d-galactopyranosyl-O-β-d-glucopyranoside. Seeds contain proteins, fatty acids, finotin (an antibacterial protein), and flavonoids. Flowers are rich in ternatins and kaempferol derivatives.^[8]

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Fig No. 4 Butterfly Pea Flower

Therapeutic Uses:

1. Antioxidant activity: By acting as radical scavengers and preventing lipid peroxidation and other processes mediated by free radicals, antioxidants shield the body from a number of illnesses linked to radical reactions. They are known to have a number of physiological impacts on people, including lowering the risk of cancer and coronary heart disease, preventing oxidative damage to lipids and low density lipoprotein, and suppressing platelet aggressiveness.^[9]
2. Anti-inflammatory:  The bioactive substances found in butterfly pea flower extract (Clitoria ternatea L.), such as flavonoids and anthocyanins, are known to have potent anti-inflammatory effects. These anti-inflammatory qualities are highly helpful in reducing inflammation, which is frequently the primary cause of a number of unhealthy illnesses. Numerous degenerative diseases and ailments that harm the body's general health can be exacerbated by chronic inflammation.^[10]
3. Antibacterial and Antifungal: Butterfly pea blossoms (Clitoria ternatea L.) are known to possess strong antibacterial and antifungal properties due to the presence of bioactive compounds such flavonoids and anthocyanins.^[10]

D. Coconut Oil:-

Biological name: Cocos nucifera.                                                                               Order: Arecales

Family: Arecaceae

Sub- family: Arecoideae

Genus: Cocos L.

Species: Nucifera                                                                                                             

Uses of coconut oil: Skin Condition left behind, helping them fade more quickly while keeping skin moisturized to allow quicker healing. Sunburn Relief Coconut oil can help soothe inflamed skin, reduce redness and rehydrate skin. Coconut oil contains a series of fatty acids that nourish and immunize your skin. [1]

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Fig No. 5 Coconut Oil

4. Propylene glycol: -  

Propylene glycol is a viscous, colorless liquid, which is nearly odorless but possesses a faintly sweet taste. Its chemical formula is CH? CHCH? OH. Containing two alcohol groups, it is classed as a diol. It is miscible with a broad range of solvents, including water, acetone, and chloroform.

? Density: 1.04 g/cm³

? Formula: C3H8O2

? Boiling point: 188.2 °C

? Molar mass: 76.09 g/mol

? Iupac name: propane-1,2-diol

? Melting point: -59 °C    

Use of propylene glycol: Due to its strong affinity for water, glycol is frequently added in trace amounts to enhance the moisturizing properties of skin care products, according to Zeichner. For more supple, moisturized skin, humectants draw and hold water in the skin. Propylene glycol is frequently utilized in moisturizing compositions for this reason.^[1]                                                                                      

1.2 METHODOLOGY:

1.2.1 Formulation table: