Nutritional Evaluation of Aqueous Extract of Citrullus lanatus var. citroides (Watermelon) Rinds

There is an increased consumption of Citrullus lanatus (watermelon) rinds among various communities in the Northwestern region of Nigeria presently. This has prompted a nutritional evaluation of its proximate composition, phytochemicals and antioxidant vitamins content to elucidate its nutritional and therapeutic potentials. This study, therefore, focuses on assessing these parameters from the aqueous extract of C. lanatus rind. The rinds were collected, dried and subjected to extraction using distilled water. Standard methods were employed for the various analyses. Proximate analysis of C. lanatus rind indicated moisture content, ash content, crude protein, crude lipid, crude fibre and carbohydrate as 6.40 ± 0.005 %, 3.43 ± 0.008 %, 10.87 ± 0.040 %, 1.29 ± 0.005 %, 25.71 ± 0.005 %, and 50.04 ± 0.056 %, respectively. The qualitative analysis indicated the presence of phytochemicals, such as Flavonoids, Tannins, Saponins, Glycosides, Alkaloids, Steroids, Cardiac glycosides, Saponin glycosides, and Volatile oils. Quantitatively, the analysis of phytochemicals revealed concentrations (in g%) of 14.45±0.03, 5.64±0.42, 1.69±0.07, 0.07±0.01, 2.30±0.01, 0.04±0.00 for Flavonoids, Tannins, Saponins, Glycosides, Alkaloids and Steroids, respectively. The C. lanatus rind extract also showed significant levels of antioxidant vitamins; A, E and C (mg/dl) as 67.87±0.98, 143.45±1.98 and 37.08±5.69, respectively. These results suggest the substantial content of essential nutrients, bioactive compounds and antioxidant vitamins in C. lanatus rind, indicating its potential use as a dietary supplement to address protein-energy deficiencies and as a therapeutic agent.