Physico-chemical, GC-MS analysis and cold saponification of canary melon (Cucumis melo) seed oil

The  physicochemical analysis revealed that the hexane extract of Canary melon seed oil has acid value, iodine value, peroxide value, saponification value, relative density and  refractive  index of  0.35±0.01 mgKOH/g, 135.6±0.07 gI₂/100g, 1.80.00± 0.01 meq H₂O₂, 233.62±0.01 mgKOH/g, 0.82±0.01and 1.44±0.00 respectively. The percentage yield was 50.42±0.01%. The colour of the oil was light cream. The following fatty acids were identified form the GC-MS analysis; Palmitic acid, Stearic acid, 11-Octadecenoic acid,-5-Octadecenoic acid, Oleic acid, Octadecenoic acid, n-Hexadecanoic acid, Ricinoleic acid and   Docosanoic acid (Behenic acid). The pH,  foam ability (cm³), total fatty matter, total alkali and  percentage chloride  of  the Canary melon oil soap were 11.03± 0.02, 75.13±0.15 (cm³), 36.66 ± 0.02 %, 0.92 ± 0.02%  and  0.53 ± 0.15 % respectively. The texture was soft and the colour was lighter cream. The soap was slightly soluble in water. The results indicated that the hexane extract of the Canary melon seed oil has potential for pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.