LEAFORA: Development of an Innovative Herbal Hand Wash Formulated with Red Keremak Leaf Extract

About the Project

The growing interest in plant-based personal hygiene products has encouraged the exploration of locally available medicinal plants as potential ingredients in sustainable hand wash formulations. Red Keremak (Alternanthera sessilis) is a medicinal herb containing phytochemical constituents with potential biological activities. This innovation project aimed to develop LEAFORA, a herbal hand wash formulated with Red Keremak leaf extract, and to evaluate its phytochemical characteristics and preliminary antibacterial potential against Escherichia coli. Red Keremak leaves were air-dried, crushed and subjected to ultrasound-assisted extraction using three solvents: 95% ethanol, 50% ethanol and distilled water. Extraction was performed at 40 kHz and 50°C for 10 minutes, followed by qualitative phytochemical screening for phenolics, flavonoids, tannins, saponins and betalains. The 50% hydroethanolic extract demonstrated the strongest phenolic response and a positive froth reaction, indicating a promising phytochemical profile for further formulation development. Tannins and intact betalains were not detected through the qualitative screening methods employed. Based on these preliminary findings, Red Keremak leaf extract was selected as a candidate botanical ingredient for the development of LEAFORA herbal hand wash. Antibacterial activity against E. coli is being evaluated using an antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) approach to investigate the potential inhibitory effects of the formulation. The findings from this assessment will provide preliminary evidence of its antibacterial potential. Overall, LEAFORA represents an innovative approach to transforming locally available botanical resources into a value-added personal hygiene product, with potential applications in sustainable hand hygiene and future commercialisation. Keywords: Alternanthera sessilis; herbal hand wash; LEAFORA; phytochemical screening; Escherichia coli; antimicrobial susceptibility testing; sustainable innovation.