UP Los Baños institute develops 'specialty soaps'

MANILA, Philippines - Malunggay soap, coffee soap, and choco bubble soap. These and others dubbed as “cocosilk” are among the “specialty soaps” developed by the University of the Philippines Los Baños-National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (UPLB-BIOTECH) here.

BIOTECH, currently headed by director Reynaldo Ebora, was established in 1979 “to develop cost-effective and environment-friendly technologies for the production of goods and services that are comparable or better alternatives to conventional products for their use in the agriculture, forestry, environment, energy and industry sectors.”

Cocosilk, as explained by BIOTECH researcher Fides Tambalo, “is a smart herbal soap developed at UPLB-BIOTECH to advance the use of the finest natural ingredients to promote wealth in health in personal care products.”

Cocosilk, she said, is made from 100 percent virgin coconut oil (VCO) certified free from heat and chemical treatments. It is enriched with vitamins A, C and E and natural plant extracts and additives for whiter, clearer, and healthy young-looking skin.

“The unique use of 100 percent premium VCO in the production of cocosilk ensures a beautiful skin that is smooth, soft and radiant,” Tambalo said.

“A pure VCO-based soap fights premature aging and development of wrinkles because it contains antioxidants in the form of plant sterols,” she added.

Different cocosilk soap variants that contain natural plant extracts and additives used by numerous civilizations have been formulated through the ages for religious, medicinal and cosmetic purposes.

In the case of the UPLB-BIOTECH-formulated products, malunggay soap is a skin-whitening soap that is rich in vitamins A and C. It has lots of unsaturated fatty acids that keep skin softer and smoother

Tambalo added that the new rage is a relaxing coffee soap meant to tone skin because coffee is an exfoliant and deodorant, and has antiseptic properties that help skin remain clean and free from acne.

“Coffee soap can also be quite effective in scouring your dirty and soiled hands because it has the capacity to absorb such pungent odors as that of fish, meat, garlic, gasoline and others,” she said.

The choco bubble soap is made from dark pure cocoa powder from Theobrema cacao. This luxurious soap is made for a sensual bath that will deliver powerful antioxidants and phytonutrient through the skin.

Other BIOTECH products have also been developed out of acapulco, carrot, guava, calamansi, and tamarind.

The best medicinal value of acapulco leaf extracts is the treatment of skin diseases, Tambalo said. A medicinal herb, acapulco contains chrysophanic acid, a fungicide used to treat fungal infections such as ringworms, scabies and eczema.

Carrot has been used as cleansing medicine because of its antiseptic and inflammatory function that helps solve burns, ulcer and infected wounds.

Guava leaf extract is widely used as antiseptic for disinfecting and cleaning wounds, as astringent and intimate wash for uterine and vaginal problems.

“The antioxidants in tomatoes are superb in preventing premature aging,” Tambalo said. “Tomato-enriched cocosilk is good in promoting and maintaining young, healthy skin for a beautiful you.”

Calamansi extract is effective for bleaching freckles, is a cheap remedy for itching and for treating pimples and acnes.

Sampalok is not only famous among Filipinos but also in other countries for the medical uses of its bark, leaves, flowers, fruits, and seeds.

Summing up, Tambalo cautioned though: “These products are not intended to diagnose or cure any disease. Check with qualified physicians for your health concerns.”