Proximate and Chemical Compositions of Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum and Nakai cv Red and Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L. cv Pipino)

Citrullus lanatus and Cucumis sativus which are heavily consumed fruits in most households in Nigeria were analysed for their nutritional potential. The pulp and rind samples of the fruits were analysed for proximate, mineral compositions and vitamin C using standard methods of Association of Official Analytical Chemist (AOAC) and Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (ASS). The investigated pulp and rind contained highest amount of moisture (93.65 +/- 0.03 - 96.79 +/- 0.05%,) and followed in decreasing order of magnitude by carbohydrate (1.28 +/- 0.06 - 4.23 +/- 0.12%), protein (0.34 +/- 0.01 - 0.86 +/- 0.02%), fibre (0.23 +/- 0.01 - 0.53 +/- 0.02%) and ash (0.23 +/- 0.01 - 0.38 +/- 0.01%). Generally the fat content of the fruits was found to be low. In both fruits, protein and carbohydrate were found to be high in amount in the pulp when compared to the rind. Aside carbohydrate, all other proximate parameters were found in higher amount in Cucumis sativus when compared to Citrullus lanatus. The mineral analysis showed that the iron of these samples were relatively high with Citrullus lanatus pulp having the highest value of 0.242 +/- 0.001 ppm compared with Cucumis sativus pulp 0.074 +/- 0.001 ppm with the least value. Concentrations of magnesium, potassium, calcium and sodium were higher in Citrullus lanatus when compared to Cucumis sativus. The rind of both fruits contained higher amount of vitamin C (4.74 +/- 0.07- 5.32 +/- 0.02 mg/100 g) when compared to the pulp (2.27 +/- 0.03- 2.81 +/- 0.08 mg/100 g). The results showed that the pulp and rind of these fruits samples have adequate dietary nutrients that could be used to supplement diet of most Nigerians which are high in carbohydrates and deficient in nutrients. (c) All Rights Reserved