Luffa (loofah) seed oil: SAP value and fatty acids
Luffa (loofah) seed oil has a saponification value of 192 mg KOH/g. One gram needs 0.137 g of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) for bar soap or 0.192 g of potassium hydroxide (KOH) for liquid soap to turn fully into soap, before any superfat.
Key numbers
- SAP, NaOH
- 0.136873 g per g oil
- SAP, KOH
- 0.192 g per g oil
- Saponification value
- 192 mg KOH/g
- Iodine value
- 108
- INS
- 84
- INCI name
- Luffa Cylindrica Seed Oil
Example: 100 g of Luffa (loofah) seed oil with no superfat needs 13.7 g of 100% NaOH, or 19.2 g of 100% KOH. A 5% superfat uses 5% less.
In soap
Its main fatty acids in our cited profile are linoleic (59.4%) and oleic (21.2%). The eight fatty acids used in soap-quality scores make up 99.6% of the profile.
On its own it scores 19 for hardness, 0 for cleansing and 81 for conditioning, with a saturated : unsaturated split of 19 : 81.
Linoleic-rich oil similar to sunflower or grapeseed, so a SAP near 192 fits its composition. Only two small lab studies exist, and they disagree by about 8%. Use the supplier COA if you have one.
Fatty-acid profile
| Fatty acid | % of fatty acids | Counts toward |
|---|---|---|
| lauric | 0% | hardness, cleansing, bubbly lather |
| myristic | 0% | hardness, cleansing, bubbly lather |
| palmitic | 12% | hardness, creamy lather |
| stearic | 6.5% | hardness, creamy lather |
| ricinoleic | 0% | conditioning, bubbly and creamy lather |
| oleic | 21.2% | conditioning |
| linoleic | 59.4% | conditioning |
| linolenic | 0.5% | conditioning |
Basis: Hussein et al. 2006 Table 2, loofah seed oil, mean of 3 replicates (lab hexane extract).
Soap-quality scores (this oil alone)
| Hardness | 19 |
|---|---|
| Cleansing | 0 |
| Conditioning | 81 |
| Bubbly lather | 0 |
| Creamy lather | 19 |
| Iodine | 108 |
| INS | 84 |
Each score adds up certain fatty acids, the way Soap Ledger scores a whole recipe. They are for comparing recipes; they don't predict how a bar will feel, and they say nothing about safety or skin.
Sources
SAP value: 192 mg KOH/g (Two independent lab studies bracket the theoretical value: Hussein 2006 measured 182.4 and Elemo 2011 measured 197-201 (mean of the two studies about 190.7). Two independent profiles both give about 193 for the pure triglyceride. 192 sits between the measured mean and theory. The earlier 199 came from Elemo alone and lies above what the composition allows.), from Hussein IH, Mirghani MES, Che Man YB (2006) Physicochemical characteristics of argessi (Chrozophora brochiana), kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus) and loofah (Luffa cylindrica) seed oils. Sudan Journal of Agricultural Research 6:53-60 (no DOI), Agricultural Research Corporation, Sudan (peer-reviewed); copy at IIUM repository. Printed value: SV 182.4 mg KOH/g (loofah) mg KOH/g.
Published values we checked:
- 197 ± 0.61 (dehulled seed); 201 ± 1.37 (whole seed) mg KOH/g — Kerala Agricultural University (peer-reviewed)
- SV 182.4 mg KOH/g (loofah) mg KOH/g — Agricultural Research Corporation, Sudan (peer-reviewed); copy at IIUM repository
Fatty acids and iodine: Hussein IH, Mirghani MES, Che Man YB (2006) Physicochemical characteristics of argessi (Chrozophora brochiana), kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus) and loofah (Luffa cylindrica) seed oils. Sudan Journal of Agricultural Research 6:53-60 (no DOI), Agricultural Research Corporation, Sudan (peer-reviewed); copy at IIUM repository. Also checked: Kerala Agricultural University (peer-reviewed) (Table 2 whole-seed column; Table 1 iodine value).
NaOH and KOH values are converted from mg KOH/g with the molar masses 39.997 and 56.106 and rounded to 6 decimals, exactly as in the Soap Ledger app. Real oils vary by origin, grade and lot: check your supplier's certificate of analysis. Verify every weight before you make this, and follow lye safety. Not a safety or compliance certification.
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