International Journal of Food Science and Nutrition

Authors
Cosmas Ezekaibeya Achikanu, Onuabuchi Nnenna Ani, Ebere Immaculata Akpata

Abstract
This study was carried out to evaluate the proximate, vitamin and phytochemical compositions of Cucumis metuliferus Seed. The analyses were done using standard methods. The proximate analysis showed that the seed contains carbohydrate (50.24 ± 0.03%), crude fibre (19.23 ± 0.28%), crude fat (15.37 ± 0.14%), moisture (7.31 ± 0.28%), Ash (5.23 ± 0.18%0 and crude protein (2.63 ± 0.06%). From the result of the phytochemical analysis, the following phytochemicals were detected: tannins (2.93±0.08mg/g), steroids (2.62±0.16mg/g), Alkaloids (2.54±0.13mg/g), Saponin (1.41±0.05mg/g), phenols (1.20±0.04mg/g) and flavonoids (0.97±0.06mg/g) while glycosides and terpenoids were not detected. The result from the vitamin analysis showed that the seed contains high amounts of vitamins with vitamin K as the most abundant vitamin (2.58±0.23mg/g) while β-carotene as the least (1.56±0.04mg/g). This study suggests that the seed of Cucumis metuliferus can serve as a good source of nutrient and has the potential to be used for therapeutic purposes.