Comparative Assessment of Nutrient and Phytochemical Properties of Melon, Water Melon and Cucumber Seeds

Quality evaluation of nutrient and phytochemical properties of melon, water melon and cucumber seeds were carried out. The seeds were respectively extracted from the fruits and subjected to proximate, minerals, vitamins and phytochemical analysis while the flour produced from the seeds were evaluated for their respective functional properties. All the analysis were done following standard methods. The proximate composition of the flour samples was found in the range of 3.75 - 12.27% (moisture), 0.81 – 50.96% (fat), 2.48 – 9.48% (Ash), 2.37 – 9.44% (fibre), 23.32 – 29.08% (protein) and 14.77 – 50.51% (carbohydrate). The proximate parameters of the samples showed significant (p < 0.05) differences from one another. The iron, zinc, potassium, calcium and magnesium contents of the melon, water melon and cucumber varied from 9.52 – 77.29mg/100g, 5.16 – 46.59mg/100g, 391.92 – 738.98mg/100g, 8.76 – 166.25mg/100g and 68.36 – 538.05mg/100g respectively. Vitamin C was found to be more concentrated in cucumber seed while vitamin B1, B2 and B3 were higher in melon seeds. The results of the functional properties revealed that oil absorption capacity, swelling index and bulk density of melon seed were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than those of water melon and cucumber while the foaming and water absorption capacities were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in cucumber seeds. Evaluation of the phytochemical contents revealed that water melon seed has the highest concentration of phenol (0.81mg/100g), phytate (0.49 mg/100g), tannin (0.17 mg/100g), saponin (0.89 mg/100g) and flavonoid (1.37 mg/100g). The results clearly showed that melon seed, water melon seed and cucumber seeds have high nutritional significance and could be incorporated in the formulation of other foods especially where micronutrients and phytochemicals are needed for human consumption as well as feeds, for animals.