ABSTRACT
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 high percentage of unsaturated fatty acids, which total leditoi159.57%.Gas chromatographic analysis of the oil revealed the presence of 8 fatty acids varying from C-16 to C-32 with the exception i 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 ifatty 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 indicate that the melon seed oil has good nutritional value; hence Citrullus vulgaris is edible for consumption. Mechanically extracted melon seed oil have 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 anti allergic agent.
