antimicrobial effect and broad spectrum of action, being active against both anaerobic and aerobic bacteria. However, even this cationic detergent, if used for more than about a week, has side effects, such as stains on the teeth, changes in the sense of taste, and formation of supraggingival calculus [2]. These drawbacks have motivated research into the development of alternative surface-active, bioactive, biocompatible substances with low toxicity to replace existing products [3]. Among the bioactive agents used in pharmaceutical and cosmetic formulations, the heteropolymer chitosan has received particular attention due to its biocidal and tissue regeneration properties, biocompatibility, low toxicity, adsorptive capacity, and biodegradability, making it an eco-sustainable substance. The solubility and stability of chitosan, which is obtained from the cell wall of fungi or by deacetylation of chitin extracted from the carapace of crustaceans [4; 5], can be enhanced through chemical modification. Chitosan salts are among such modified structures. Chitosan hydrochloride, in particular, is highly hydrophilic, exhibits stability at physiological pH [6; 7], and has enhanced antimicrobial activity [8]. Surfactants, which are among the most widely used ingredients in beauty and self-care products, are responsible for forming emulsions, with foaming, wetting, cleaning, and even antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, and play an essential role in the preparation of formulations [9]. However, most commercially available surfactants are synthesized from petroleum derivatives, which are a non-renewable and non-biodegradable sources, in addition to being toxic to humans and the environment [10]. Chemical surfactants are contaminants that represent a relevant problem regarding their presence in wastewater. For instance, perfluorinated compounds, due to their non-biodegradable and persistent content, are characterized as dangerous and harmful since they cause the destabilization of aquatic flora and fauna, in addition to being harmful to humans [11]. The presence of surfactants in water reduces water quality and causes taste and smell, causing short-term changes in the ecosystem [12]. An example of these chemical products is the anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), which has a linear molecule with an alkyl tail linked to a sulfate group, which is synthesized by sulfonation of lauryl alcohols of petrochemical origin, while linear alkyl sulfonate, another surfactant, is produced solely from byproducts of petrochemicals [13]. Therefore, also considering the growing pressure from consumers towards natural, sustainable, eco-friendly products, it is necessary to use natural surfactants, denominated biosurfactants, as an alternative to their synthetic counterparts, although toxicity studies are also necessary for these compounds before they can be released into the environment [14]. Biosurfactants are amphipathic molecules found in some plants or produced by some microorganisms that offer advantages over chemical surfactants, such as high biodegradability, low toxicity, high surface activity, compatibility with the environment, thermal stability, and tolerance to extreme conditions of salinity and pH [15; 16]. Among the procedures for extracting biosurfactants from plants, the Soxhlet method is the most widely used lixiviation technique to extract biologically active substances, having been the standard for more than a century and currently being the main reference for evaluating the performance of other lixiviation methods [9]. Saponins, widely distributed in the vegetal kingdom, are biosurfactants with potential for the formation and stabilization of systems dispersed in foods, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical products [17]. Emulsions containing saponins have an excellent performance, remain stable even when exposed to variations in temperature, pH, and salinity, and can easily replace synthetic surfactants in commercial products [18].