Plant Foods for Human Nutrition 41: 35-44, 1991.

35
9 1991 Kluwer Academic Publishers. Printed in the Netherlands.

C h e m i c a l c o m p o s i t i o n o f kernels from s o m e species o f

Cucurbitaceae grown in N i g e r i a

G.I.O. BADIFU 1 & A.O. OGUNSUA 2

1School of Forestry, Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, P.M.B. 5054, Ibadan, Nigeria
(present address." Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Agriculture,
Makurdi, Nigeria); 2Department of Food Science and Technology, Obafemi A wolowo
University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Received 10 April 1990; accepted in revised form 20 July 1990

Key words: protein, fat (oil), fibre, carbohydrate, minerals, lipase activity

Abstract. The seeds of lesser-known species - Cucumeropsis mannii, Lagenaria sicceraria

varieties 1 and 2 and Telfairia occidentalis, of Cueurbitaceae family were studied. The protein
content ofC. mannii was 36.1% and the varieties 1 and 2 ofL. sicceraria had 32.1% and 33.3%
respectively. Telfairia occidentalis had protein content of 33.2%. The fat contents of C. mannii,
L. Siceeraria var. 1 and 2 and T. oceidentalis were 44.4%, 44.6%, 46.9% and 42.3% respective-
ly. The crude fibre content for each of the two varieties of L. siceeraria was 3.6% and T.
oecidentalis had 5.5%. Cucumeropsis mannii had the lowest (2.4%) fibre content. The car-
bohydrate contents for L. Sicceraria var. 2, C. mannii, and T. occidentalis were 12.6%, 13.2%
and 14.4% respectively. Lagenaria sicceraria var. 1 had the highest value of carbohydrate
(15.8%). The species were relatively rich in potassium and magnesium with range of values
of 0.56% to 0.68% and 434 ppm to 444 ppm respectively. Cucumeropsis mannii and Lagenaria
sicceraria var. 2 had relatively high contents of calcium ( l l 7 p p m ) and iron (109ppm)
respectively. The kernels of these species exhibited lipase activity. Telfairia occiden talis showed
the highest degree of lipase activity.

Introduction

The family of Cucurbitaceae comprises the following genera: Citrullus

(water melon), Cucumeropsis (white melon), Cucumis (sweet melon),
Cucurbitta (pumpkin), Lagenaria (gourd), Luffa (luffa), Telfairia (fluted
pumpkin) and Trichosanthes (snake tomato) (Egunjobi, personal com-
munication, 1985). There are many species and varieties in each genus of this
family. They are widely grown in Nigeria. Species of this family are minor
agricultural crops in Nigeria and there are no current published data on
their areas of growth, yield and production. The kernels of most species are
used for food in different consumable forms. Some are used as soup
thickeners, e.g. in EGUSI soup; some are fried and eaten as snacks, or
36

fermented traditionally to produce 'Ogiri' - a flavouring agent (Akindele,

1978; Ogundana, 1980) for use as soup condiment. The seed of fluted
pumpkin is boiled and the kernel eaten as such or with other condiments.
The cooked kernel of Telfairia occidentalis (fluted pumpkin) is also used in
making OGILI - a fermented product in the southern part of Nigeria. The
traditional process consists of putting the cooked and washed kernel in
basket (made of plant material) and covering it with flamed leaves of
cocoyam (Colocasia esculentum Schott) or plantain (Musa sapientum var.
Paradisiaca Linn). This is allowed to ferment for 2-3 days at ambient
temperature (27-30 ~ At the end of the period of fermentation, it is stirred
with stick to a slurry. The slurry is wrapped in portions with the flamed
leaves of plantain only. The wraps are packaged in a basket cage (made of
wire or plant material) and the cage is suspended on flame from fire wood
for 2-3 days. More flavour further develops as the product becomes more
matured. At this stage it is ready for use or sale.
Melon pudding, another form in which kernels of melon species are taken,
is prepared traditionally by milling melon kernel with a small quantity of
water to form slurry. Pepper, salt, and other desired ingredients according
to one's taste are added and the slurry is thoroughly mixed. Aliquots of the
slurry are wrapped in green leaves of Molatus sp or Thaumatoeoccus sp and
finally cooked in boiling water,
OSEANI is very popular among some Ibo-speaking people of Bendel
State of Nigeria from where the name is derived. It is a sort of instantised
soup that can be used in emergency situation. The kernels of Lagenaria
sicceraria are used in this area for the preparation of OSEANI. Tradition-
ally, it is prepared by roasting the kernel of Lagenaria sicceraria to light
brown colour and grinding, with some condiments mainly dried crayfish,
fish smoked to brittleness, pepper, fermented melon kernel (OGILI), in
wooden mortar with pestle. Under these conditions it can be packaged in
powdered form after the addition of some quantity of salt to taste. When
needed for consumption, cold or warm water is added and mixed to desired
soup thickness.
Studies on the nutritional properties of kernels of some melon species
have been reported (Oke, 1965; Sanchez et al., 1972; Umoh and Oke, 1974;
Oyenuga and Fetuga, 1975; Akobundu et al., 1982; Achinewhu, 1983) and
some aspects of their physical and chemical properties have been published
(Makanjuola, 1972; Oyolu, 1977; Oyolu and Macfarlane, 1982; Ige et al.
1984).
In spite of the food potentials of the kernels of Lagenaria sp, Telfairia
occidentalis and Cucumeropsis mannii not much is known about their chemi-
cal constituents.
 37

The purpose of this study was to determine the chemical composition of

kernels from some of the lesser-known species of Cucurbitaceae.

Materials and methods

Source of raw material and treatment

The fruits of Cucumeropsis mannii Naud (Cult.) syn Cucumeropsis edulis

(Hook.f.), Lagenaria sicceraria varieties 1 and 2 (Molina) Standley and
Telfairia occidentalis Hook .f. used in this study were harvested in August/
September 1986 from the local farms a t Ogwashi-Uku, Bendel State of
Nigeria. The fruits were heaped together, covered with the fresh leaves of
plantain (Musa sapientum var. Paradisiaca Linn) and allowed to ferment for
4-5 days. At the end of fermentation period, the seeds were scooped out,
washed with water and spread on a concrete platform. The seeds were dried
under the sun for two weeks. They were packed in polyethene bags and
transported to the laboratory for study. Specimens of the fruits and seeds
were identified and authenticated at the Forest Herbarium Ibadan (FHI), a
Section of the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, Ibadan.
Measurements on the dried seeds were taken using a caliper. The seeds
were shelled by cracking then with a small iron rod and followed by splitting
with hand to remove the kernel. The kernels were packed in polyethene bag
which was put into a tin container with lid and stored in a deep freezer at
- 2 0 ~ from where samples were taken for studies.

Proximate composition of the kernels

Moisture content using air-oven at 105 _+ 1 ~ crude protein, fat, fibre, and
ash were determined according to the procedure of AOAC (1984). Car-
bohydrate was calculated by difference.

Minerals

Sample (ash) was treated as described by Buchanan-Smith et al. (1974).

Phosphorus was determined by Vanado-Molybdate colorimetric method
(Pearson, 1976). Potassium and sodium were determined by flame
photometry using a Corning flame photometer model 405. The transmittan-
ces at 767nm and 589nm for potassium and sodium respectively were
measured. Other elements were determined using Perkin Elmer (Model 403)
atomic absorption spectrophotometer.
38

Analysis of data

Analysis of variance was carried out using a microcomputer on the data

generated.

Lipase activity of the kernels

The lipase activity of the kernels was determined as described by Frais

(1972), using Pye model 291 pH meter.

Results and discussion

Measurement on seeds

The results obtained from the measurements taken on the seeds are present-
ed in Table 1. The seeds of Telfaira occidentalis (fluted pumpkin),
Cucumeropsis mannii (white melon) and Lagenaria species (gourd) were
hard. The cotyledon (kernel) of dry T. occidentalis stuck to the shell, unlike
the other species, and this made shelling difficult. Telfairia occidentalis had
the maximum mean length and the highest kernel/seed ratio.
In general, the seeds of these species could fall into three groups on the
basis of their kernel/seed ratio. In group one are those with values ranging
from 0.29 to 0.32, group two about 0.40 and the third group with value of
about 0.78. These values are important to processors who wish to buy the
seeds for the production of vegetable oil. The values estimate the quantity
of kernel expected from a given quantity of seed. This, in turn, would
influence the amount of vegetable oil that would be obtained.

Proximate and mineral composition of the kernels

Table 2 shows the proximate composition of the kernels. The value of crude
protein for C. edulis compared fairly well with 38.1% reported by Ige et al.
(1984). However, the values for Telfairia and Lagenaria spp were less than
that for C. mannii. The difference was significant at 5% probability level.
The crude protein (33.2%) for T. occidentalis compared well with 32.3%
protein for pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo and Cucurbita maxima) reported by
Lazos (1986). The species studied were relatively high in ether extract (ca
42-47%). Lagenaria sicceraria var. 2 had the highest oil yield (ca 47%) while
T. oecidentalis had the lowest (ca 42%). The values obtained were much
higher than 26.8% and 38.3% oil for Lagenaria sicceraria Standl and
Table 1. M e a s u r e m e n t on seeds*
Species Seed length (cm)t Seed width (cm)t Kernel/seed ratio
M e a n _+ s.d. M e a n § s.d. (g)~
M e a n + s.d.

Cucumeropsis mannii 2.04 +_ .32 0.88 _+ .05 0.40 § .03

(white melon)
Lagenaria sicceraria var. 1 2.28 _+ .21 1.42 _+ .14 0.32 -I- .01
(gourd)
Lagenaria sicceraria var. 2 2.83 _+ .25 1.00 +_ .02 0.29 +_ .01
(gourd)
Te(fairia occidentalis 4.07 -I- .54 3.62 _+ .19 0.78 ___ .08
(fluted p u m p k i n )

* Dry weight basis.

t Values are m e a n of 25 seeds.
Values are m e a n of four determinations with seed samples of 250 g each.
s.d. - standard deviation.
C o m m o n n a m e in parentheses.
Table 2. Proximate composition of the kernels*
Species Protein Ether extract Crude fibre Ash Carbohydratet Moisture
(% U x 6.25) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)
(Mean • s.d.) (Mean • s.d.) (Mean _+ s.d.) (Mean + s.d.) (Mean • s.d.) (Mean • s.d.)
Cucumeropsis mannii 36.14 • .19 44.35 • .07 2.41 • .04 3.88 • .09 13.22 • .15 8.12 • .03
(white melon)
Lagenaria sicceraria var 1 32.13 • .12 44.58 • .03 3.60 • .07 3.87 _ .02 15.82 • .09 8.12 -1- .17
(gourd)
Lagenaria sicceraria var 2 33.25 • .29 46.86 • .10 3.55 ___ 11 3.74 -I- .14 12.60 • .14 8.29 • .16
(gourd)
Telfairia occidentalis 33.19 • . 18 42.26 • .05 5.48 _+ 13 4.66 __ .10 14.41 _ .12 8.63 • .27
(fluted pumpkin)

* Dry weight basis (excluding moisture).

t Carbohydrate was calculated by difference. Values are mean of four determinations.
s.d. - standard deviation.
 41

Telfairia pedata Hook respectively reported by Chisholm and Hopkins

(1964). The oil yield obtained from the kernels of these species was compar-
able to the yield from some of the conventional sources such as soybean
(18-20%), cottonseed (18-20%), groundnut (45-50%) palm fruit (45-50%)
reported by Langstraat (1976). The kernels of these species could be poten-
tial sources of vegetable oil for domestic and industrial purposes.
The crude fibre contents of the species were lower than the values 7.8%
and 8.24% for Citrullus spp reported by Ige et al. (1984) and Oke (1965)
respectively. This difference could be agronomic. Again, may be they carried
out their determination on defatted meal rather than on whole kernel.
Telfairia occidentalis had a relatively high fibre content when compared with
the other species.
The carbohydrate contents were high in comparison to the value of 5.55%
for (pumpklin) Cucurbita pepo and Cucurbita maxima reported by Lazos
(1986). Kamel et al. (1985) reported carbohydrate content of 10.2% for
Citrullus vulgaris while Akobundu et al. (1982) reported 8.21% for Colocynt-
his citrullus. The carbohydrate content (ca 16%) of Lagenaria sicceraria var.
1 was relatively high. The kernels of these species could be a rich source of
energy.
The mineral compositions of the kernels are shown in Table 3. The species
are very low in minerals but relatively rich in potassium and magnesium.
Lagenaria sicceraria var. 2 was relatively rich in iron. The important dietary
constituents of the ash are the calcium, phosphorus and iron contents.

Lipase activity

The activity of lipase in the kernels is presented in Table 4. The kernels of

the species exhibited lipase activity. The activity was highest in Telfairia
occidentalis as shown by the relative fall in pH (6.10) for a given time
(120 minute) (Table 4). Lipase hydrolyses triglycerides of the oil to glycerol
and fatty acid. The liberated fatty acid resulting from lipase activity present
in the oil caused pH changes with time in the medium. The pH changes with
time which were monitored served as an index of lipase activity. Lipase
activity, however, occurs only when the natural compartmentalization of the
oil cell is ruptured. This rupture allows contact of the oil with lipase present
in the oilseed. The presence of lipase in oilseed could affect the storage
stability of the oil extracted from such kernel and, hence, the need of
roasting melon kernel (Ogunsua and Badifu, 1989) before the extraction of
its oil. There are conflicting reports in literature on lipase activity in oilseed-
s.Lipid bodies isolated from peanut (Jacks et al., 1967) and soybean (Lin et
al., 1982) of ungerminated and germinated seeds do not contain lipase
Table 3. Mineral composition of the kernels -I~

Mineral Cucumeropsis mannii Lagenaria sicceraria Lagenaria sicceraria Telfairia occidental&

(Mean +_ s.d.) var 1 var 1 (Mean +__ s.d.)
(Mean + s.d.) (Mean + s.d.)

K (%) 0.68 _+ .03 0.56 _+ .02 0.60 +_ .04 0.57 _+ .03

Na (%) 0.018 +_ .02 .020 _+ .01 0.020 _+ .02 0.018 _+ .01
Ca (ppm) 117 • .17 57 _+ .15 40 ___ .09 58 _+ .11
P (ppm) 30.99 + .06 39.99 • .10 38.66 + .07 42.66 _+ .13
Mg (ppm) 444 _+ .19 434 _+ .18 435 -t- .21 444 _+ .26
Fe (ppm) 75 _+ .14 64 • .12 109 + .15 52 + .10
Cu (ppm) 28 _+ .01 49 _+ .02 69 • .04 50 -I- .05
Zu (ppm) 49 + .02 74 _+ .04 62 __+ .05 31 _+ .03
Mn (ppm) 22 +_ .01 12 _ .02 12 _+ .03 8 _+ .01

Values are mean of four determinations.

s.d. - standard deviation.

Table 4. Lipase activity in the unroasted kernels at 25 to 30~ as a function of pH changes

Time (min) Cucumeropsis mannii Lagenaria sicceraria Lagenaria sicceraria Telfairia occidentalis
var 1 var 2

0 6.80 6.80 6.80 6.80

30 6.75 6.75 6.75 6.65
60 6.70 6.70 6.70 6.55
90 6.65 6.55 6.55 6.40
120 6.55 6.50 6.50 6.20
150 6.54 6.50 6.50 6.10
180 6.54 6.50 6.50 6.10

Values are mean of four determinations.

 43

activity. However, Huang and Moreau (1978) reported that peanut and
soybean examined did not contain a high activity of lipase in the unger-
minated seeds. Lin et al. (1983) reported that Lipase activity was absent in
ungerminated corn (Zea mays) seeds but increased during seedling growth.
They found that the enzyme was active on acylglycerols of linoleic and oleic
acids which were the major fatty acid constituents of corn oil.

Conclusions

The kernels of Cucumeropsis mannii, Lagenaria sicceraria varieties 1 and 2

and Telfairia occidentalis were high in protein and oil contents. They could
be used as sources of protein supplement and as well as vegetable oil for
domestic and industrial purposes. Apart from potassium and magnesium,
they were poor in mineral contents. Lipase activity was present in the kernels
and this could be detrimental to the oil obtained from such untreated
kernels.

Acknowledgement

The authors are grateful to Mr S.A. Adisa of the Animal Science Analytical
Service, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria, who assisted in the
mineral analysis.

References

Achinewhu SC (1983) Chemical and nutritional composition of fermented products from

plant foods. Nigerian Food Journal 1(1): 115-117
Akindele AM (1978) Studies on "Ogiri", a Nigerian fermented melon seed condiment. M.Sc.
thesis, University of Ife, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
Akobundu ENT, Cherry JP, Simmons JG (1982) Chemical, functional and nutritional proper-
ties of egusi Colocynthis citrullus L. seed protein product. J. Food Sci 47(3): 829-835
AOAC (1984) Official Methods of Analysis, 14th edn. Washington D.C.: Association of
Official Analytical Chemists
Buchanan-Smith JG, Evans E, Poluch SO (1974) Mineral analysis of corn silage produced in
Ontario. Can J Animal Sci 54(2): 253-256
Chisholm M J, Hopkins CY (1964) Fatty acid composition of some Cucurbitaceae seed oils.
Can J Chem 42:560-563
Egunjobi JK (1985) Personal communication. Agricultural Biology. University of Ibadan,
Ibadan, Nigeria
Frais F (1972) Practical Biochemistry, An Introductory Course. Butterworth and Co. Limited,
London and University Park Press, Baltimore, 139 pp
Huang AHC, Moreau RA (1978) Lipases in the storage tissues of peanut and other oil seeds
44
during germination. Planta 141:111-116
Ige MM, Ogunsua OA, Oke OL (1984) Functional properties of the proteins of some Nigerian
oilseeds: conophor seeds and three varieties of melon seeds. J Agric Food Chem 32(4):
822-825
Jacks TJ, Yatsu LY, Altschul AM (1967) Isolation and characterization of peanut
spherosomes. Plant Physiol 42:585-597
Kamel BS, Dawson H, Kakuda Y (1985) Characteristics and composition of melon and grape
seed oils and cake. J Am Oil Chem Soc 62(5): 881-883
Langstraat A (1976) Characteristics and composition of vegetable oil-bearing materials. J Am
Oil Chem Soc 53(6): 241-247
Lazos ES (1986) Nutritional, Fatty acid, and oil characteristics of pumpkin and melon seeds.
J Food Sci 51(5): 1382-1383
Lin YH, Wimer LT, Huang AHC (1983) Lipase in the lipid bodies of corn scutella during
seedling growth. Plant Physiol 73(2): 460-463
Lin YH, Moreau RA, Huang AHC (1982) Involvement of glyoxysomal lipase in the hydroly-
sis of storage triacylglycerols in the cotyledons of soybean seedlings. Methods in Enzymol-
ogy 71:804-813
Makanjuola GA (1972) A study of some of the physical properties of melon seeds. J Agric
Enging Res 17:128-137
Ogundana SK (1980) The production of 'Ogiri', a Nigerian fermented soup condiment.
Lebensm - Wiss U - Technol 13:334-336
Ogunsua AO, Badifu GIO (1989) Stability of purified melon seed oil obtained by solvent
extraction. J Food Sci 54(1): 71-73 & 81
Oke OL (1965) Nutritive value of Nigerian water melon. Nature 207:192
Oyenuga VA, Fetuga BL (1975) Some aspects of the biochemistry and nutritive value of the
water melon seed Citrullus vulgaris Schrad. J Sci Food and Agric 26(6): 643-854
Oyolu C (1977) A quantitative and qualitative study of seed types in egusi (Colocynthis
citrullus L.). Trop Sci 19(1): 55-62
Oyolu C, Macfarlane N (1982) A study of the oil and the soluble protein components of five
egusi (Colocynthis citrullus L.) cultivars. Trop Sci 24(2): 93-98
Pearson D (1976) The Chemical Analysis of Foods. 7th edn. London: Churchill Livingstone
Sanchez A, Fuller AB, Yahiku PY, Baldwin MV (1972) Supplementary value of black-eyed
peas, peanuts and egusi seed on the typical West African diet of plant origin. Nutr Rept Intl
6(3): 171-179
Umoh IB, Oke OL (1974) Nutritive value of some lesser known oilseeds in rats. Nutr Rept
Intl 9(6): 453-460