Chemical characterization of shea butter oil soap (Butyrospermum parkii G. Don)

Abstract

Shea butter oil was obtained from the edible nut of the fruit from Karite (Butyrospermum parkii) tree grown in Savannah Grasslands of West Africa. It is a wild growing tree that produces tiny, almond-like fruit. Shea Butter oil was extracted from the fruit by cold process and was used to prepare medical soap. Chemical analysis showed that the obtained soap has 76.0 %, 9.0 %, 3.41 minutes, 9.0, 0.0 %, 3.7% and 0.87 as its total fatty matter, moisture, foam stability, pH, free caustic alkali, unsaponified and specific gravity respectively. Due to the phytoconstituents in shea butter oil and the favourable chemical characteristics of the soap, it can be used as medical and cosmetics toilet soap. Such soap is used to alleviate problems of the skin and scalp