Guwahati: Long before commercial soaps and liquid hand washes filled store shelves, people in parts of Arunachal Pradesh relied on a native forest tree for cleaning.
Now, a new study suggests that this forgotten “soap tree” could make a comeback—this time as an eco-friendly, chemical-free hand wash with commercial potential.
Researchers have successfully developed a natural hand wash from the pods of Gymnocladus burmanicus, locally known as Dikang or Dika. This endemic tree grows in the foothills of Arunachal Pradesh. The study, published in the journal PhytoTalks, is the first to formulate a hand wash from the species and highlights its potential to transform the soap and personal care industry.
The research was carried out by Dr Temin Payum of the Department of Botany, Jawaharlal Nehru College, Pasighat.
The tree, which grows at elevations of 350-700 metres, bears elongated brown pods rich in saponins—natural compounds known for their foaming and cleansing properties. According to the study, a mature tree can produce more than 100 kg of pods annually, opening up possibilities for community-based harvesting and rural enterprises.
“Gymnocladus burmanicus is a promising source of natural cleansers and has the potential to bring significant change to the cleansing industry, addressing sustainability, environmental friendliness, rural economies and livelihoods,” the study noted.
The researchers developed three formulations using aqueous, ethanol and solvent extracts of the pods. All three hand washes demonstrated effective cleansing and self-lathering properties without the need for synthetic surfactants or preservatives. Foam volumes ranged from 20 to 25 ml, while the products maintained a skin-friendly pH of 6.3 to 7.2. Importantly, no microbial growth was detected in the formulations even after two weeks of exposure under laboratory conditions.
A blind user trial involving 15 volunteers found high levels of satisfaction, with users reporting effective cleaning, skin softness and an absence of irritation. The formulations also showed cleansing efficacy comparable to commercially available hand washes while being entirely free of synthetic detergents.
The researcher says the hand wash can be customised with natural additives such as neem, aloe vera, Vitex negundo, glycerine, essential oils and natural colours, making it attractive for the growing market for herbal and sustainable personal care products.
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The study comes at a time when concerns are growing over the environmental impact of conventional soaps and detergents, many of which contain petrochemical-derived ingredients that eventually enter ecosystems through wastewater.
For Arunachal Pradesh, the findings could open a new avenue for bio-based enterprises and value addition of indigenous biodiversity, turning an underutilised forest resource into a green business opportunity.
What was once a traditional village soap may now be poised to become Arunachal’s next sustainable product innovation.
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