The aim of this study was to compare the minerals, heavy metals and amino acids compositions of the seeds and juice of Cucumis metuliferus. The minerals and heavy metals content were evaluated using FS240AA agilent atomic absorption spectrometer according to the method of American Public Health Association while the amino acids content was evaluated using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). From the mineral analysis, concentrations of calcium (23.416 ppm), aluminum (0.094 ppm), manganese (0.242 ppm) and iron (1.243 ppm) were higher in the juice than in the seeds with respective values of 20.084 ppm, 0.079 ppm, 0.221 ppm and 0.934 ppm while the concentrations of magnesium (29.749 ppm), zinc (4.184 ppm), copper (0.125 ppm), sodium (8.927 ppm) and potassium (7.594 ppm) were higher in the seeds than in the juice with respective values of 20.592 ppm, 1.271 ppm, 0.030 ppm, 8.594 ppm and 6.833 ppm. The juice had higher concentrations of heavy metals such as arsenic (20.082 ppm), lead (4.135 ppm), cobalt (0.178 ppm), silver (0.074 ppm), selenium (7.246 ppm) and mercury (4.609 ppm) as against the seed with respective values of 0.578 ppm, 1.455 ppm while cobalt, silver, selenium and mercury were not detected. However, the concentrations of cadmium (0.389 ppm), chromium (0.545 ppm) and nickel (0.288 ppm) were higher in the seeds than in the juice with respective values of 0.082 ppm, 0.252 ppm and 0.016 ppm. From the result of amino acid analysis, 18 amino acids were found in both the seeds and juice which include 9 essential and 9 non-essential amino acids respectively. The qualitative composition of amino acids in both the seeds and the juice was same, but the quantitative contents differed although non-significantly from each other with prevalence of amino acids in the seeds. Aspartate was the most abundant of the amino acids found while cysteine was the least.  These results suggest that the seeds and juice of Cucumis metuliferus contain adequate essential minerals which are beneficial to human health. The contaminant levels of heavy metals highlights the necessity on the quality and safety concerns about their use and handling. The amino acids analysis showed that both the seeds and juice of Cucumis metuliferus are good sources of amino acid and could be used as food supplement. The amino acid content may also provide useful information for determination of the protein quality of Cucumis metuliferus.

Background: Kiwano, commonly called horned melon is a common fruit consumed in the tropics for its nutritional and therapeutic value. This study evaluated the composition of some bioactive compounds in the rind of the fruit as well as its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects using in vitro methods. Methods: The rind of the fruits of kiwano were peeled out, pulverized and extracted with 80% ethanol. The bioactive compounds evaluated were phenol, flavonoid, beta carotene, lycopene and ascorbic acid. The antioxidant properties were evaluated using DPPH, iron reducing power and inhibition of lipid peroxidation assays. Ascorbic acid served as the standard. The anti-inflammatory property was measured in-vitro using anti-proteinase activity, inhibition of albumin denaturation and membrane stabilization assay systems. Aspirin and diclofenac served as reference drugs Results: Phenol and flavonoids were the bioactive compounds found in higher concentration than the rest with concentrations of 261.73±13.54 and 130.86±9.66 mgGAE/ml of the dry matter respectively. In the antioxidant assay, the highest activity of more than 50% was recorded in DPPH assay. The maximum percentage radical scavenging activity of the extract was 76.74% at 800 µg/ml with a drop in activity at 1000 µg/ml (75.02%) and EC50 value of 230 µg/ml. Ascorbic acid exhibited 96.35% scavenging activity of radicals at 1000 µg/ml and EC50 value of 260 µg/ml. For the anti-inflammatory assay, the extract exhibited 16.43% anti-proteinase activity, 25.64% inhibition of heat-induced haemolysis activity and 47.14% inhibition of albumin denaturation activity at 1000 µg/ml. More than 50% activity was recorded for the reference drugs. Conclusion: We therefore conclude that the rind of the fruit of kiwano is rich in biologically active compounds and has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The rind is a potential source of therapeutic compounds.

This study dealt with the phytochemical and vitamin constituents of Sennaoccidentalis (Uzakimma). The qualitative analysis of the plant indicated the presence of high presence of flavonoids, glycosides, alkaloids, terpenoids and, moderate presence of tannins, saponin, steroids, and phenol. The quantitative results were tannins 1.4775 ± 0.0495 mg/g, alkaloids 2.2280 ± 0.0283 mg/g, saponin 1.5830 ± 0.0141 mg/g, glycosides 2.1295 ± 0.1909 mg/g, terpenoids 2.7560 ± 0.1414 mg/g, flavonoids 2.1755 ± 0.0212 mg/g, steroids 1.1030 ± 0.1273 mg/g, phenol 1.3290 ± 0.0283 mg/g. The results of vitamin contents were vitamin A (0.6545 ± 0.0778 mg/g), vitamin B (1.5600 ± 0.0283 mg/g), vitamin B1 (0.8145 ± 0.9405 mg/g), vitamin B2 (0.2325±0.1202 mg/g), vitamin B3 (0.1200 ± 0.0566 mg/g), vitamin B6 (0.2390 ± 0.0283 mg/g), vitamin B9 (1.2280 ± 0.3536 mg/g), vitamin C (1.0610 ± 0.8061 mg/g), vitamin D (0.3430 ± 0.1273 mg/g), vitamin E (0.5285 ± 0.0212 mg/g) and vitamin K (0.6170 ± 0.000 mg/g). The result indicates that there are phytochemicals and vitamins in Uzakimma that could be useful in medicine.