Biochemical Assay of Medicated Soap from Shea Butter

Abstract

Shea butter is a fatty raw material derived from shea nut and is associated with skin softening as well as inflammatory and healing properties. This study aimed to explore the potential of the Shea butter for soap production and assayed of its medicated usage. Oil (65.8g) was extracted from the Shea fruit using soxhlet extraction with n-hexane as the extracting solvent. The physicochemical properties of the extracted shea butter oil have saponification value (63.76mg/KOH), acid value (1.45mg/KOH), iodine value (85.26I₂/100g) and specific gravity (0.91). The FT-IR spectra of the oil showed absorption peaks at 2918.5cm^-1; 1738.8cm^-1 and 1463.0cm^-1 which is ascribed for alkane, carbonyl and cyclic alkene groups respectively. Furthermore, physicochemical properties of the formulated soap have foaming value (2.6cm) and pH value (9.63). The anti-microbial activity of the soap was determined using ager well diffusion method. The produced soap shows significant anti-microbial activity suggesting its domestic usage. The percentage oil yield and physicochemical properties of shea butter oil infers it viability as a potent raw material for production of medicated toilet soap.