DOI: https://doi.org/10.55373/mjchem.v26i3.56

Keywords: Phenolic acids; antibacterial; bar soap; anti-inflammatory

Abstract

Bar soap is a widely used cleansing and lubricating product. It primarily comprises fatty acid salts and surfactants that help remove dirt and impurities from the skin. This research innovates the production of soap that can serve as both a cleaning agent and a medication. Baeckea frutescens is a wild herb with a historical track record for its medicinal applications, such as treating fever and sunstroke. This investigation involved extracting the oil for the saponification process, followed by an analysis using Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). The validation of C-H ν and C=C aromatic signals at 2923.04 cm-1 and 1609.12 cm-1, respectively, in the FTIR data has been corroborated through Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GCMS) analysis. The result illustrates the mass spectrum, confirming the presence of 1-ethyl-3-methylbenzene with a molecular ion [M+] at m/z 120. This observation is consistent with the mass spectrometric properties of the genuine standard, 1-ethyl-3-methylbenzene, thereby strengthening the reliability of our analytical findings. The soap's unique spherical design not only acts as a barrier against microbial growth but also highlights the oil's potential aesthetic and health benefits. This research highlights the potential of Baeckea frutescens soap as an eco-friendly and therapeutic alternative that combines natural healing characteristics with contemporary skincare requirements