Production of herbal shampoo from Madagascar periwinkle

Recently, the society interest in using herbal shampoos has increased significantly. Big companies have started to produce herbal shampoo to meet the market demands. However, most of these shampoos contain chemicals that could be harmful to human health. The main purpose of this study are to produce homemade herbal shampoo from Madagascar Periwinkle plant without harmful chemicals and have additional benefits to consumers. By using stem and leaf extract from the plant and cold press machine, we analysed the quantitative aspect of the extracts and use it as a main ingredient to produce homemade herbal shampoo. The extracts are then used as ingredients in production of the shampoo. Several tests were conducted to determine the performance of the shampoos. The Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis shows presence oh -OH groups and C=O bond to indicate the presence of vinca alkaloids. The performance tests result inconsistent to one extract only. This study provided an information to future researchers regarding the study of Madagascar Periwinkle and effectiveness of this plant in herbal shampoos production

Physicochemical Properties Influencing Presence of <i>Burkholderia pseudomallei</i> in Soil from Small Ruminant Farms in Peninsular Malaysia

<div><p>Soil is considered to be a major reservoir of <i>Burkholderia pseudomallei</i> in the environment. This paper investigates soil physicochemical properties that may influence presence of <i>B</i>. <i>pseudomallei</i> in soil samples from small ruminant farms in Peninsular Malaysia. Soil samples were collected from the farms and cultured for <i>B</i>. <i>pseudomallei</i>. The texture, organic matter and water contents, pH, elemental contents, cation exchange capacities, carbon, sulfur and nitrogen contents were determined. Analysis of soil samples that were positive and negative for <i>B</i>. <i>pseudomallei</i> using multivariable logistic regression found that the odds of bacterial isolation from soil was significantly higher for samples with higher contents of iron (OR = 1.01, 95%CI = 1.00–1.02, p = 0.03), water (OR = 1.28, 95%CI = 1.05–1.55, p = 0.01) and clay (OR = 1.54, 95%CI = 1.15–2.06, p = 0.004) compared to the odds of isolation in samples with lower contents of the above variables. These three factors may have favored the survival of <i>B</i>. <i>pseudomallei</i> because iron regulates expression of respiratory enzymes, while water is essential for soil ecology and agent’s biological processes and clay retains water and nutrients.</p></div

Descriptive statistics and mean percentages of the physicochemical variables of <i>B</i>. <i>pseudomallei</i> positive and negative soil samples from small ruminant farms in Malaysia.

<p>Descriptive statistics and mean percentages of the physicochemical variables of <i>B</i>. <i>pseudomallei</i> positive and negative soil samples from small ruminant farms in Malaysia.</p

Results of <i>Burkholderia pseudomallei</i> isolates screening using API 20NE kits and PCR confirmation from soil samples obtained from small ruminant farms in Peninsular Malaysia.

<p>Results of <i>Burkholderia pseudomallei</i> isolates screening using API 20NE kits and PCR confirmation from soil samples obtained from small ruminant farms in Peninsular Malaysia.</p

Multivariable logistic regression of soil properties associated with the presence of <i>B</i>. <i>pseudomallei</i> in soils from small ruminant farms in Peninsular Malaysia.

<p>Multivariable logistic regression of soil properties associated with the presence of <i>B</i>. <i>pseudomallei</i> in soils from small ruminant farms in Peninsular Malaysia.</p