Effect of Synthetic Compounds Present in Dermatological Cleansers on Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis Inhibition in Contrast to Naturally Occurring Compounds Present in Dermatological Cleansers
Microbiology- Grade:
- 10
- Teacher:
- Elyse Wexler
Adolescent targeted dermatological products frequently include natural and synthetic antimicrobial compounds to prevent acne vulgaris-causing microbial growth. This experiment aimed at testing how efficient synthetic ingredients endemic in dermatological cleansers are compared to natural ingredients at inhibiting bacterial prefoliation, along with testing the correlation between pHs of each ingredient and inhibition. Initially, it was hypothesized that anthropogenic compounds would demonstrate a larger zone of inhibition. Antimicrobial efficacy was assessed using Kirby Baur methodology, with zones of inhibition measured in millimeters following standardized incubation of designated agar plates. The zones of inhibition in Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (S. epidermis) were measured against the three natural compounds,2-Hydroxypropane-1,2,3-Tricarboxylic (Citric Acid), Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree Oil), Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel), and the three synthetic compounds 2-Hydroxybenzoic Acid (Salicylic Acid), 2-Hydroxyethanoic Acid (Glycolic Acid), and Ethanol. Melaleuca alternifolia produced the largest zone of inhibition against E. coli and S. epidermidis, while 2--1,2,3-Tricarboxylic Acid appeared in the second lead for bacterial inhibition, yet Hamamelis Virginia demonstrated 1-0 mm in inhibition. On the other hand, Ethanol, 2-Hydroxybenzoic Acid, and 2-Hydroxyethanoic Acid inhibited a maximum of 24 mm across both bacteria. Since all four of our correlation coefficients were below 0.5, pH level seems to be relatively ineffective on bacterial inhibition, and a multitude of factors outside of pH level, including chemical mechanisms of each compound, affect antibacterial effectiveness. Conclusively, natural compounds suppressed more harmful microbial growth than synthetic compounds, suggesting that natural ingredients should continuously be prioritized in modern adolescent skincare habits.
Your data is comprehensive, clean, and wonderful to examine! Your project is creative and should be continued as the research is important for teenagers and adults alike! Please keep up the wonderful science you are doing now!