Application of Desert Date (<i>Balanites aegyptiaca</i>) Seed Oil as Potential Raw Material in the Formulation of Soap and Lotion

Balanites aegyptiaca has multiplicity of uses and almost every part of the plant is useful including its flowers, leaves, bark, root and fruit.In this study, oil from Desert date (Balanites aegyptiaca) kernel seed was extracted, analyzed and used in the formulation of soap and lotion.The physical parameters determined were oil content, specific gravity, refractive index and moisture content.These were found to be 45.32% ± 0.0026%, 0.90 ± 0.03, 1.45% and 0.114% ± 0.04%, respectively.The chemical parameters evaluated include saponification value (200.02 ± 0.12 mg KOH/g), acid value (2.14 ± 0.28 mg KOH/g), iodine value (104.39 ± 0.00 100/g), peroxide value (2.95 ± 0.00 mEq/kg) and free fatty acid (0.82% ± 0.01%).The oil quality assessments test indicates %FFA content of 0.84% and the fatty acids composition of the oil was evaluated using GC-MS as FAME; the oil contains about 47.52% unsaturated fatty acids.The seed kernel of Balanites aegyptiaca is a good source of vegetable oil.Soap formulated from the oil is considered a good soap based on the soap quality parameters determined.Lotion formulated has a good stability when subjected to lotion stability test.