| abstract |
It has long been the practice to incorporate bactericides, fungicides and virucides in detergent compositions. But in such detergent modifications if the antimicrobial is washed off as the hands or other surfaces are rinsed, the effectiveness of the detergent is greatly reduced. The composition should be absorbed onto the skin or other surface being washed, leaving a film which resists removal by running water. This is termed substantivity. Cinnamon oils and similar antimicrobial cinnamic compounds have been in soaps but they rinse off. A cinnamic compound-containing antimicrobial surfactant is provided herein which is rendered substantive to the surface being washed. |