Handcrafted soaps made from medicinal plants extracts sourced from Zé Doca, Maranhão, Brazil

In the Alto Turi region of Maranhão, the production of natural handcrafted soaps is an economically viable alternative regarding the use of medicinal herbs and plants. Obtaining soaps requires high-quality fatty raw materials and a strong base, as during the saponification reaction, these materials must be completely consumed to generate a suitable final product with excellent quality. According to the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (ANVISA), an ideal soap for human consumption should contain free alkalinity (FA) in the range of 0.1-0.5% and a pH close to 10.4-11.5. During the manufacturing process of handcrafted soaps, eight different formulations were developed based on hydroalcoholic extracts of medicinal herbs, plants, and oilseeds using the Cold Process method. The immediate chemical analysis results for the produced soaps revealed excellent detergency power (wetting, emulsifying, and foaming capacity). However, the free alkalinity (FA) varied between 0.03 and 0.22%, and the pH ranged from 10.0 to 12.0, with only two formulations exceeding the ANVISA specifications. Overall, the produced soaps contained physicochemical properties capable of moisturizing, nourishing, and rejuvenating the users' skin, making the final product suitable for human consumption according to current legislation.