Background: Hand hygiene plays a crucial role in preventing the transmission of infectious diseases, especially during pandemics such as COVID-19. Although alcohol-based hand sanitizers are effective, their frequent use is associated with skin dryness, irritation, and other adverse effects. Herbal formulations containing bioactive phytoconstituents offer a safer and skin-friendly alternative with broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. Objective: The present study was aimed at formulating and evaluating a polyherbal hand sanitizer using selected medicinal plants and to assess its antimicrobial efficacy, physicochemical properties, and safety for regular use. Materials and Methods: Polyherbal extracts were prepared from Azadirachta indica leaves, Ocimum tenuiflorum leaves, Rubia cordifolia roots, Eclipta alba roots, and Pongamia pinnata oil using Soxhlet extraction and maceration techniques with ethanol as the solvent. Preliminary phytochemical screening was carried out to identify active constituents. The hand sanitizer gel was formulated using Carbopol as a gelling agent along with aloe vera gel, ethanol, herbal extracts, and natural fragrance. The formulation was evaluated for organoleptic properties, pH, viscosity, spreadability, and skin irritancy. In vitro antimicrobial activity was assessed by agar well diffusion method against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Results: Phytochemical analysis confirmed the presence of flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, saponins, terpenoids, and glycosides. The formulated polyherbal hand sanitizer showed acceptable physicochemical properties with suitable pH, good spreadability, and non-irritant nature. Significant zones of inhibition were observed against all tested microorganisms, indicating effective antimicrobial activity comparable to the standard drug. Conclusion: The developed polyherbal hand sanitizer demonstrated effective antimicrobial activity along with good stability and skin compatibility. Hence, it can be considered a safe, economical, and natural alternative to conventional chemical-based hand sanitizers for routine hand hygiene. Keywords: Polyherbal hand sanitizer, Antimicrobial activity, Medicinal plants, Phytochemical screening, Hand hygiene.
Venkateshwari et al. (Fri,) studied this question.