EDIKU Frank Osamede

Melon is a popular soup or stew condiment in Nigeria. Melon soup is usually prepared with or without vegetables. Seeds obtained from melon (Citrullus vulgaris) were analysed for their proximate composition.The seeds contained a high percentage of unsaturated fatty acids, which totalled $159.57\%$. Gas chromatographic analysis of the oil revealed the presence of 8 fatty acids varying from C-16 to C-32 with the exception of C-18, C-20, C-21, C-22, C-23, C-24, C-26, C-27, C- and C-31.The concentrations of individual fatty acids varied from trace (less than $0.06\%$) quantities to about $52.74\%$. Linoleic, oleic, Iso-Oleic, palmitic, and stearic acids were the principal fatty acids contributing to $132.76\%$, $1.36\%$, $8.85\%$, $10.06\%$ and $14.52\%$, respectively, of the total fatty acids which had a relatively high percentage ($159.57\%$) of unsaturated fatty acids. The P/S index of the mechanically extracted seed oil was found to be $2.30$, $3.37$, $12.15$ respectively. The P/S value greater than 1 indicates that the melon seed oil has good nutritional value; hence Citrullus vulgaris is edible for consumption .Mechanically extracted melon seed oil has a potential role in lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease, blood cholesterol and LDL cholesterol concentrations, synthesis of steroid hormones. It can also be use as anti-inflammatory agent and antiallergic agent. Would you like a simplified list of the key health benefits m