Saw palmetto extract (lipophilic fruit extract): SAP value and fatty acids
Saw palmetto extract (lipophilic fruit extract) has a saponification value of 230 mg KOH/g. One gram needs 0.164 g of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) for bar soap or 0.230 g of potassium hydroxide (KOH) for liquid soap to turn fully into soap, before any superfat.
Key numbers
- SAP, NaOH
- 0.163963 g per g oil
- SAP, KOH
- 0.23 g per g oil
- Saponification value
- 230 mg KOH/g
- INCI name
- Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract
Example: 100 g of Saw palmetto extract (lipophilic fruit extract) with no superfat needs 16.4 g of 100% NaOH, or 23.0 g of 100% KOH. A 5% superfat uses 5% less.
In soap
Saw palmetto extract (lipophilic fruit extract) is left out of the soap-quality scores in Soap Ledger: it is mostly not ordinary oil (a wax, resin, blend or an oil with unusual fatty acids), so those scores would not describe it. It still counts fully in the lye calculation.
This is a solvent or CO2 extract, not a pressed oil. It is mostly free fatty acids (lauric, oleic, myristic), so it reacts with lye quickly. The USP range is wide (210–250); use your supplier's COA if you have it. Not the same product as 'Saw Palmetto Oil'. Only one published source was found for this value; confirm it against your supplier's certificate of analysis.
Sources
SAP value: 230 mg KOH/g (Midpoint of USP32–NF27 Saw Palmetto Extract saponification value spec), from USP 32–NF 27, Saw Palmetto Extract monograph (via the drugfuture.com mirror of USP32), United States Pharmacopeial Convention. Printed value: between 210 and 250 mg KOH/g.
Published values we checked:
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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