The fatty acid profile of vegetable oil from seeds of egusi melon (Cucumeropsis mannii Naudin) and watermelon (Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai) collected from a local market in Imo State, Nigeria, were analyzed using the GC-MS technique. The study revealed the presence of six (6) fatty acids in each seed oil. Four fatty acids and three fatty acid methyl esters were detected. A total of five (5) similar fatty acids (three (3) saturated and two (2) unsaturated) were detected in both oil, and both seed oils contained one fatty acid not detected in the other. The percentage (%) concentration of saturated fatty acids compounds detected in both oil include Pentadecanoic acid methyl ester (EMO: 4.91; WMO: 4.43), Octadecanoic acid (Stearic acid) (EMO: 3.64; WMO: 41.77), and Methyl heptacosanoate (EMO: 39.16; WMO: 1.32) while the (%) concentration of unsaturated fatty acids detected in both oils includes 11-octadecenoic acid, methyl ester, (EMO: 46.05; WMO:46.28) and Oleic acid (EMO: 4.48; WMO: 3.97). Eicosanoic acid, methyl ester was detected at a concentration of 1.77% in Egusi melon seed oil alone while watermelon seed oil detected n-Hexadecanoic acid at a concentration of 2.22%. The fatty acid profiling of both seed oil revealed fatty acid compounds with therapeutic abilities. This study has provided the scientific backing for the therapeutic uses of both oil and also has compared both oil and predicts a future substitution of both oil in future utilization and at the same time influence their acceptability by the consumers.
The nutritional benefits of agricultural trash and the therapeutic properties of leftover agricultural product parts are still being thoroughly researched in Africa. This investigation looked at the distribution of specific metals and phytochemicals in Bayelsa state, Nigeria, watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) seed and peel samples. Watermelons (Citrullus lanatus) were picked for their seeds and peel samples after being brought from several gardens in Nigeria's Bayelsa state. Ether acetate was used to extract the samples. The extracts were evaluated at various concentrations, including 10 mg/ml, 5 mg/ml, 2.5 mg/ml, 1.25 mg/ml, 0.625 mg/ml, and 0.3125 mg/ml, for phytochemicals. The phytochemical screening of the ethyl acetate extracts of seed and peel samples, revealed the presence of flavonoids, terpenoids, tannins and cardiac glycosides in seed extracts while flavonoids, phenols, terpernoids, cardiac glycosides, carboxylic acids, quinine and xanthoproteins were detected in peel sample. The samples were digested with an aqua regia and analyzed for metals using atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). The total concentrations of the metals analyzed varied from 51.05 to 58.40 mg/kg, (5.20±54.73), mean concentrations of the individual metals from result showed iron Fe (28.70-32.60 mg/kg), Mn (11.67-14.14 mg/kg), K (0.24-0.25 mg/kg), Zn (7.89 -9.11 mg/kg), Ni (0.01 -0.03 mg/kg), Cu ( 0.42 -0.48 mg/kg), Mg (1.29 -1.47 mg/kg), Ca (0.56 -0.57 mg/kg) and Pb (0.00-0.01 mg/kg). Iron Fe concentrations were predominant in both seed and peel samples of (Citrullus lanatus). The concentrations of metal in seed and peel samples followed this order Fe>Mn > Zn > Mg >Ca>Cu > K > Ni >Pb and the concentrations of Fe and Mn were relatively higher than WHO daily intake permissible limits in Citrullus lanatus.
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