Sequential Assessment of Microbiome and a Study on Antimicrobial Activity of Hibiscus sabdariffa Against Pathogens from Sanitary Napkins

Menstruation is a part of monthly cycle for a woman. Most of the women prefers sanitary napkins over various menstrual products during their menstruation period. It is easily available, affordable and easy to use. To increase the absorption, to prevent odor to use for longer hours and provide comfortability, various chemicals were added in sanitary napkins that were available commercially. As an alternative, cellulose based and natural extract sanitary napkins were developed with more absorption that were made commercially available. These natural extracts help to maintain vaginal pH and prevents the odor. In this study, microorganisms were isolated and identified using VITEK-MS from both the synthetic and natural extract sanitary napkins and 145 bacterial strains were isolated from the used sanitary napkins from 25 volunteers between the age of 18-25. There is a variation in microbiome between the synthetic and natural extract sanitary napkins. Particular product with kenaf leaves (Gongura) used sanitary napkins were provided to volunteers, based on that, a verity of Gongura- Roselle flowers extracts were used in this study for its antibacterial activity against the isolated pathogens from used sanitary napkins.