SAPONIFICATION OF OSU (HUNTERIA UMBELLATE) OIL

ABSTRACT Hunteria umbellata, commonly called Osu seed, is a tropical rainforest plant native to sub-Saharan Africa. It is widely studied for its rich phytochemical profile, nutritional value, and medicinal properties. The seed contains bioactive compounds relevant to saponification studies, including saponins, which are natural surfactants and play a significant role in soap formation. Osu seeds have been traditionally used as an anthelmintic, to treat sexual dysfunction, and to support reproductive health in men and women. Physicochemical analysis of the extracted seed oil was carried out in order to justify its usefulness in soap industry. The following values were obtained for the various parameters measured; Saponification value 215.4mgKOH/g and Acid value 16.83mgKOH/g. It indicates that the oil could be used in soap making since it saponification value falls within the range of other oils. Higher saponification justify the usage of fat or oil for soap production.The oil yield was 40%. The analytical values obtained were significantly in favour of the utilization of the Osu seed (Hunteria Umbellate) oil for soap production on commercial scale. The pH of the soap was 12, comparably within the higher pH range of 9-12 set by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), which indicates that the pH is slightly toxic to the skin. The foam height of the soap was 1.7cm lower than that of papaya extract soap. The soap was brownish yellow and soluble in distilled water.