Comparative evaluation of protein and amino acid composition of melon (<i>Citrullus vulgaris</i>) and watermelon (<i>Citrullus lanatus</i>) seeds

Abstract

The seeds of melon (Citrullus vulgaris) and water melon (Citrullus lanatus) from Nasarawa town in Nasarawa State and Shagari town in Sokoto State, Nigeria were respectively analyzed for their crude protein and amino acids contents. The crude protein compositions of the melon and water melon seeds were found to be 30.2% and 24.23% respectively. The results of the amino acids analyses indicated that both the melon and the water melon seeds were rich in aspartic and glutamic acids (7.99 and 15.16 g/100g of protein respectively) and were also good sources of five out of seven categories of essential amino acids analyzed, with chemical scores of 5/8. eucine was also present in fairly high (7.17g/100g of proteins) Leucine was also present in fairly high (7.17 g/100g of proteins). Methionine was the most limiting essential amino acids in the seed samples. These results serve as information for harnessing the nutritional potential of both melon and water melon seeds.

Keywords: Protein, amino acids, melon, water melon, nutrition

International Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences, 5(3): 208-212, 2009