title: Chemical composition of kernels from some species of Cucurbitaceae grown in Nigeria.
abstract: The seeds of lesser-known species - Cucumeropsis mannii, Lagenaria sicceraria varieties 1 and 2 and Telfairia occidentalis, of Cucurbitaceae family were studied. The protein content of C. mannii was 36.1% and the varieties 1 and 2 of L. sicceraria had 32.1% and 33.3% respectively. Telfairia occidentalis had protein content of 33.2%. The fat contents of C. mannii, L. Sicceraria var. 1 and 2 and T. occidentalis were 44.4%, 44.6%, 46.9% and 42.3% respectively. The crude fibre content for each of the two varieties of L. sicceraria was 3.6% and T. occidentalis had 5.5%. Cucumeropsis mannii had the lowest (2.4%) fibre content. The carbohydrate 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 (117 ppm) and iron (109 ppm) respectively. The kernels of these species exhibited lipase activity. Telfairia occidentalis showed the highest degree of lipase activity.
authors.affiliation: School of Forestry, Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, Ibadan.
authors.forename: G I
authors.initials: GI
authors.lastname: Badifu
authors.forename: A O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Ogunsua
mesh_terms: D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000032:analysis; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000032:analysis; D005638:Fruit / Q000032:analysis* / Q000201:enzymology; D008049:Lipase / Q000032:analysis; D008903:Minerals / Q000032:analysis; D009549:Nigeria; D009753:Nutritive Value; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D012639:Seeds / Q000032:analysis* / Q000201:enzymology; D014675:Vegetables / Q000032:analysis* / Q000201:enzymology
chemical_list: D002241:Carbohydrates; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D008903:Minerals; D010940:Plant Proteins; D008049:Lipase