Nutritional value OF Bottle Gourd (<i>Lagenaria siceraria</i>) Seeds

Abstract

Whole seeds, dehulled seeds and seed coats of bottle gourd seed (Lagenaria siceraria) were analysed for their proximate, amino acids and mineral compositions. The results of the analysis showed that, whole seed has highest content of moisture (17.5 ± 0.21%) and ash (5.80 ± 0.83%) while dehulled had highest amount of crude protein (35.0 ± 0.48%) and crude lipid (39.22 ± 1.48%) and seed coat contain highest amount of crude fiber (59.05 ± 0.98%). The study showed a profile of seventeen amino acids (isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, cysteine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, threonine, valine, alanine, arginine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, glycine, histidine, proline and serine) with glutamic acid, leucine and aspartic acid being the predominant amino acid. The percentages (%) of essential and non-essential amino acids in dehulled seeds, whole seeds and seed coats were 44 vs 56, 41 vs 59 and 51 vs 49 respectively. The dehulled seeds contained essential amino acids that were found to be higher than WHO/FAO/UNU requirement. In whole seeds, threonine, lysine and lysine were found to be the most limiting amino acids. Seed coats were deficient in all the essential amino acids except for valine. Generally, the mineral composition of the seed was found to be relatively high, indicating the seed to be a good source of dietary elements, except for Ca, Zn, Co and Cr where very low values were obtained. Finally, the results of the study indicate that, bottle gourd seed is a potential source of protein, lipid, micro and macronutrients, and if properly utilised, could contribute in solving the problem of malnutrition and also serve as raw material for agro-based industries.

Chemical, Phytochemical and Functional Properties of Selected Seeds’ Flours

“…These results are in agreement (though lower) with the reports of [24][25][26] and it is also in agreement that watermelon seeds are good source of oil [22] and a source of edible vegetable oil if well prepared and hence could complement conventional vegetable oil which are expensive. Although those (pawpaw & pear seeds' flours) with low oil content are relegated as a source of oil commercially, they can be recommended as part of weight reducing diets.…”

“…As regards proteins which are essential component of the diet needed for survival of animals and humans and of which basic function in nutrition is to supply adequate amounts of required amino acids [19]; watermelon, melon and benoil seed's flours contained significantly (p≥ 0.05) higher levels (16.30-31.04%) than other seed flours examined and it was also higher than 24.69% and 20.00% obtained for unfermented groundnut and sesame seed by [20] and [21] respectively. It is in agreement with the fact that watermelon seeds are source of protein [22]. The high protein content of the flours has a good implication in a society with high protein deficiency and will no doubt complement protein from cereals and other plant foods in the diets of Nigerians.…”

A green separation of Lagenaria siceraria seed oil

“…One of the feed stock, Bottle gourd seed (Lagenaria siceraria), from which oil can be extracted. The L. siceraria oil has many applications in various industries (Hassan et al, 2008;Piccirilli et al, 2007;Habibur Rahaman, 2003).…”

Effect of Fermentation on the Nutritional and Antinutritional Composition of Lagenaria Siceraria Seeds

“…Although researches have shown that many seeds such as those of Parkia biglobosa, Rhizopus oligosporus, Parkia roxburghii were fermented before being used in condiment preparation [3,4,5], L. siceraria seeds has not been documented for its use in fermentation.…”