Nutraceuticals from Bushland: Determination of Medicinal Value of Malaysian Wild Herbs for Proposed Hygienic Travel Soap

Medicinal plants have been used in traditional medicine for centuries due to their phytochemical components and medicinal properties. In this study, wild herbs Oldenlandia corymbosa (Lidah Ular), Striga asiatica (Jarum Mas) and Phyllanthus niruri (Dukung Anak) were collected from Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, dried, and grounded. The powdered samples were extracted using hot water, ethyl acetate and ethanol for 48 hours. Phytochemical analysis revealed antioxidants such as flavonoids and phenolics in all extracts, while resins were present only in the ethanolic extracts, and steroids were absent. ATR-FTIR analysis identified key functional groups, including hydroxyls, lipids, alkanes, amino acids, benzoic compounds and phenols. Additionally, the study aimed to develop a portable, easy-to-use travel soap to promote frequent handwashing. Since liquid soap and bar soap each have their own limitations, this travel soap was invented to make it easier for users. Oils from Oldenlandia corymbosa, Striga asiatica and Phyllanthus niruri were used to replace palm oil in the saponification process. The soap, shaped like a ball, allows for easier use than traditional soap and can be rolled between the fingers to effectively clean all parts of the hands and remove germs.