CHARACTERISATION, CREAM AND SOAP PRODUCTION USING FENUGREEK SEEDS OIL

Abstract

Trigonella foenumgraecum commonly known as Fenugreek is an aromatic herb used as a medicinal plant in the therapeutic management of human diseases. Use of chemically oriented skin creams and soaps can produce harmful effects. Hence, this research was conducted to extract oil from fenugreek seeds, characterize the oil then formulate body cream and soap. The oil was extracted from Fenugreek seed using soxhlet extraction method with n-hexane as theextraction solvent. Cream was prepared as semi-solid Water- in- oil (W/O) emulsion method by the addition of aqueous phase to the oily phase withcontinuous agitation. Physico-chemical and phytochemical analysis of the oil were carried out using standard protocol. The percentage yield of the oil was 5.83 ± 0.5 % (w/w). The oil at room temperature indicated yellow colour, a refractive index of 1.479, acid value of 6.413 mg/g oil, iodine value (148.564 g/100 g of oil). High saponification value (190.277mg KOH/g of oil) indicated a high content of low molecular weight triacylglycerols in the oil. The phytochemical parameters, revealed the presence of Alkaloids, Flavonoids and Terpernoids in high amount while Saponins, Steroids and Tannins were in traces amount, while Phenol was not detected. Soap was prepared using the extracted oil and cornstalk ash using the semi boiling processes which followed major steps of saponification, fitting, molding and drying. The physicochemical characteristics of the soap were determined. Body cream was also successfully prepared as semi-solid water- in- oil (W/O) emulsion by the addition of aqueous phase to the oily phase withcontinuous agitation. Both cream base and fenugreek oil extract loaded cream were successfully prepared without any phase separation. The appearance of the cream was good and the distribution of the extracts in the cream were uniform in the medium. The fenugreek cream and soap are recommended for use due to the phytochemical properties portrayed in this study as well as the ease of lather formation of the soap and the non-greasy form of the cream which can be easily washed off the body with water.