Quality Characteristics of Massage Oil Produced from Tuna Skin Waste (Thunnus sp.) Enriched with Lemongrass and Bajakah Wood

Ardianta Selasa, September 08, 2026
Illustration by AI
FORMOSA NEWS

Tuna Skin Waste Enriched with Lemongrass and Bajakah Yields High-Quality, Stable Massage Oil

Transforming tuna skin processing waste into value-added topical massage oil offers an innovative and sustainable solution for marine by-product utilization. A 2026 laboratory study conducted by Lisnawati, Syahriati, Adilham, and Mursida from the State Agricultural Polytechnic of Pangkajene Islands successfully extracted and purified tuna skin oil, combining it with lemongrass and bajakah wood extracts. Published in the International Journal of Contemporary Sciences (IJCS), the research demonstrates that fisheries waste can be converted into a sensory-accepted, chemically stable topical oil suitable for personal care and wellness applications.

Background and Context in Fisheries Waste Valorization

Rapid growth in fish processing industries, particularly tuna processing, generates substantial quantities of solid organic waste, including heads, bones, viscera, and skins. In processing coastal regions, unhandled fish waste creates severe environmental pollution and unpleasant odors. However, these by-products contain high-value biological fractions, such as functional lipids and structural proteins, that align with the goals of a circular bioeconomy.

Despite the potential of fish-derived oils, their application in personal care products has been limited by a strong characteristic fishy odor. To overcome this sensory barrier, the research team from the State Agricultural Polytechnic of Pangkajene Islands incorporated natural botanical additives. Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) provides a fresh citrus scent, while bajakah wood, a traditional medicinal plant from Kalimantan, adds local ethnobotanical value and natural phytochemicals to the topical formulation.

Methodological Summary

The study was carried out at the Biochemical Testing Laboratory for Fishery Product Processing and Storage, State Agricultural Polytechnic of Pangkajene Islands. The research team employed a quantitative descriptive experimental design. Crude oil was extracted from dried tuna skin (Thunnus sp.) using solvent maceration and subsequently purified through heating, alkaline neutralization, washing, bleaching with bentonite clay, and centrifugation.

The purified tuna skin oil was blended with distilled extracts of lemongrass and bajakah wood in a 70:15:15 formulation ratio. Product quality was evaluated using organoleptic tests with 30 panelists to assess color, aroma, and texture. Chemical stability was tested in duplicate through key indicators: free fatty acid (FFA) content, peroxide value (measuring early lipid oxidation), and iodine value (indicating the degree of unsaturation).

Key Findings

The comprehensive evaluation confirmed that the formulated massage oil achieved favorable sensory acceptance and strong chemical stability:

  • Positive Consumer Acceptance: Organoleptic testing yielded mean scores of 3.90 for color (neutral response), 4.15 for aroma (liked response), and 4.10 for texture (liked response). The high aroma score proved that the lemongrass extract successfully masked the fishy odor.
  • Controlled Hydrolytic Breakdown: The mean free fatty acid content was 1.14%, corresponding to an estimated acid value of 2.27 mg KOH/g. This low acidity confirmed that the purification process effectively removed breakdown products.
  • Low Primary Oxidation: The peroxide value averaged 3.24 mEq O₂/kg. This low concentration indicates minimal initial lipid oxidation, preventing rancidity at the time of formulation.
  • Enhanced Oxidative Resistance: The average iodine value was 33.03 g I₂/100 g. This moderate unsaturation level reduces the oil's vulnerability to oxidative degradation during storage, enhancing its shelf stability as a topical product.

Industry Implications and Real-World Impact

This research from the State Agricultural Polytechnic of Pangkajene Islands offers practical pathways for industrial adoption in fisheries management and cosmetics manufacturing. Seafood processors can reduce waste management costs and environmental impact by diverting tuna skin residues into raw material streams for non-food consumer goods.

For cosmetic and personal care businesses, the formulation presents an eco-friendly, natural massage oil that leverages local biodiversity and sustainable sourcing. Substituting synthetic oils with marine-derived lipids enriched with local plants enhances product diversity in the wellness sector.

As emphasized by Mursida and the research team from the State Agricultural Polytechnic of Pangkajene Islands, converting tuna skin waste into a stable massage oil enriched with lemongrass and bajakah demonstrates that marine discards can be effectively repurposed into valuable consumer products without compromising sensory appeal or chemical quality.

Author Profiles

  1. Lisnawati, S.St.Pi. is a researcher in the Study Program of Fishery Product Processing and Storage, Department of Agricultural Technology, State Agricultural Polytechnic of Pangkajene Islands, specializing in fishery waste processing.
  2. Syahriati, S.T., M.Si. is an academic and researcher in the Department of Agricultural Technology, State Agricultural Polytechnic of Pangkajene Islands, specializing in agricultural and aquatic post-harvest technologies.
  3. Adilham, S.Pi., M.Si. is a faculty member in the Department of Agricultural Technology, State Agricultural Polytechnic of Pangkajene Islands, focusing on fishery product development and engineering.
  4. Mursida, S.Pi., M.Si. is a lecturer and lead researcher in the Study Program of Fishery Product Processing and Storage, State Agricultural Polytechnic of Pangkajene Islands, with expertise in aquatic biochemistry and marine by-product utilization.

Source Information

Ardianta

Diposting oleh Ardianta

Posting Komentar

0 Komentar