Approximate composition analysis and nutritive values of different varieties of edible seeds

Abstract

Background: The Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) 2015-2020 supports that healthy eating patterns should include a variety of vegetables from all five of the following vegetable subgroups: dark green, red and orange, legumes, starchy, and others.
 Aims and Objective: To determine the approximate composition and nutritive values of edible portions of different varieties of popular seeds and to identify the heavy metals contents of these seeds.
 Materials and Methods: Five different seeds were collected from traditional supermarkets in Benghazi. Moisture and Ash contents in the samples were determined by A.O.A.C method. Total fat and the crude protein content in the seed sample were measured by using soxhlet extraction, and the Kjeldahl method of AOAC, respectively. The mineral content in seeds also determined by Atomic Absorption, spectrophotometer.
 Result: Five different seeds (pumpkin, sunflower, watermelon seeds, corn and chickpea) were analyzed for determination their protein, fat, energy and moister contents. The highest and signifi cant protein contents found in sunflower seeds 27.5% (p=0.001) whilst the lowest content was observed in corn. The highest fat and carbohydrate contents found in sunflower seeds and in the corn, 50%; 50% (P= 0.014) and (72.4%) (P=0.0005) respectively. In compared to other seeds, the moisture contents of pumpkin seeds presented the highest amount with signifi cant values (p=0.0001). The energy contents of sunflower seeds were the predominant value 626.28 kcal/100 g followed by both pumpkin seeds and watermelon seeds 591.2 and 585.89 kcal/100g respectively. The ash content of pumpkin seeds was approximately 5.87%. Furthermore, Pumpkin seeds had higher amounts of potassium 871 mg/100g, and watermelon seed was the highest sources of calcium (86 mg/100g) than other seeds. Magnesium, Iron and copper signifi cantly found higher in sunflower seeds.
 Conclusion: Overall seeds could be one of the good sources of food staple for macro and micronutrients, and may have health and economic benefi cial. Consumption of such seeds should be at recommended levels due to presences some quantities of lead and cadmium,which could have detrimental health effect.

Nutritional, biochemical and phytochemical characterization of seeds and seed oil of pumpkins (Cucurbita maxima) grown in Malawi

“…The seed ash value of 7.38±0.05% was higher compared to values of 5.92±0.81% (Ike et al, 2020) and 3.8% (Habib et al, 2015) obtained by other researchers for C. pepo L. and C. maxima L., respectively. The pumpkin seed ash content was also higher compared to the value of 3.66±0.00% reported in previous studies (Saad et al, 2021) and 2.00±0.11 to 2.17±0.05% (Shibli et al, 2019) for H. annuus and various cultivars of A. hypogaea, respectively. The high amount of ash content denotes that Cucurbita seeds have high concentration of minerals that could assist in speeding up metabolic processes, growth and development improvement (Jacob et al, 2015).…”

“…The high amount of ash content denotes that Cucurbita seeds have high concentration of minerals that could assist in speeding up metabolic processes, growth and development improvement (Jacob et al, 2015). The crude fat content of 46.39±0.06% was higher compared to values of 36.7% (Habib et al, 2015) and 33.12±2.20 (Ike et al, 2020) for C. maxima L. and C. pepo L. but was comparable to 47.99±0.01% for pumpkin seed flour reported in Libya (Saad et al, 2021). Other authors have previously reported crude fat values of 49.80±3.53% (Shibli et al, 2019) for raw A. hypogaea and 50.80±0.01 and 48.68±2.82% for H. annuus seeds (Saad et al, 2021) in studies conducted in Pakistan and Libya, respectively which were comparable to the pumpkin seed value from this study.…”

“…The crude fat content of 46.39±0.06% was higher compared to values of 36.7% (Habib et al, 2015) and 33.12±2.20 (Ike et al, 2020) for C. maxima L. and C. pepo L. but was comparable to 47.99±0.01% for pumpkin seed flour reported in Libya (Saad et al, 2021). Other authors have previously reported crude fat values of 49.80±3.53% (Shibli et al, 2019) for raw A. hypogaea and 50.80±0.01 and 48.68±2.82% for H. annuus seeds (Saad et al, 2021) in studies conducted in Pakistan and Libya, respectively which were comparable to the pumpkin seed value from this study. Fats are important because they provide the body with maximum energy compared to other nutrients like proteins and carbohydrates (Oluyemi et al, 2006).…”

“…The crude protein value of 32.47±0.15% was comparable to 34.56% (Habib et al, 2015) for C. maxima but higher compared to the value of 27.48% for C. pepo L. (Elinge et al, 2012). The crude protein content was comparable to that of sunflower (H. annuus) seeds (27.53±0.00%), Arachis hypogaea seeds (26.43±1.15%) and soybean (G. max) seeds (36.6±0.7%) (Saad et al, 2021;Shibli et al, 2019;Siulapwa and Mwambungu, 2014). The high protein content in the pumpkin seeds makes them suitable for food fortification aimed at improving protein content of foods.…”

“…Consumption of pumpkin seed oil prevents growth of prostate besides reducing the size of prostate, lung, gastric and breast cancer (Stevenson et al, 2007). The oil composition in the seeds is estimated at 47.99±0.01, 38.0% (Saad et al, 2021;Elinge et al, 2012) and 33.12±2.20%, 47.03% with some differences depending on type and genetic diversity (Ike et al, 2020;Younis et al, 2000). Pumpkin seeds have high quality oil and are reported to contain high quality proteins in the range of 30.23% (Syed et al, 2019).…”