ABSTRACT
This
work was focused on the chemical compositions of the shell, pulp and seed of Cittrullus colocynthis fruit as well as
the antimicrobial potentials of their extracts. The proximate analysis showed
the presence of moisture, fibre, dry matter, ash, protein, crude fat, ether
extract and carbohydrate. They were
found to be very rich in potassium which ranged from 116.7mg/100g in the shell
to 182.6mg/100g in the seed. Sodium had reasonable values which ranged from
42.8mg/100g in the shell to 89.3mg/100g in the seed. They were found to be very
rich in trace minerals: Fe, Cu, Se, Mn, Zn and Co. Copper had the highest value
ranging from 7.04mg/100g in the shell to 16.4mg/100g in the seed. The other
trace elements had lower but very reasonable values in the seed, pulp and the
shell. The vitamin A compositions ranged from 5.8IU/100g in the shell to
19.5IU/100g in the pulp while vitamin E content ranged from 3.3IU/100g in the
seed to 6.9IU/100g in the pulp. The B-vitamins (B1, B2
and B3) were not detected in the seed, pulp and the shell. The
phytochemical analysis showed the presence of flavonoids, phytates, oxalate, HCN,
alkaloid, saponin and tannin. The flavonoid content was the highest in the seed
with a value of 2.8mg/100g while phytate was the lowest in the seed with a
value of 0.3mg/100g. Oxalate had the highest value of 2.9mg/100g in the pulp
while phytate had the lowest value of 0.3mg/100g. Flavonoid had the highest
value of 2.4mg/100g in the shell while oxalate had the lowest value of
0.2mg/100g. The GC/MS analysis revealed the presence of 16 compounds in each of
the shell and pulp and 15 compounds in the seed. The Antimicrobial study of the
extracts revealed some levels of activity against some bacteria
(Staphylococcus, E. coli, Salmolina, Pseudomonas, Shigella, Streptococcus) and
fungi (Penicillium, Rhizopes, Fusamium, Kleb, Aspergium) .
AMARACHI, M (2023). Comparative Study Of The Chemical Compositions And Antimicrobial Potentials Of The Seed, Pulp And Shell Of An Underexploited Tropical African Fruit (Cittrullus colocynthis).. Mouau.afribary.org: Retrieved Nov 17, 2024, from https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/comparative-study-of-the-chemical-compositions-and-antimicrobial-potentials-of-the-seed-pulp-and-shell-of-an-underexploited-tropical-african-fruit-cittrullus-colocynthis-7-2
MGBEODICHINMA, AMARACHI. "Comparative Study Of The Chemical Compositions And Antimicrobial Potentials Of The Seed, Pulp And Shell Of An Underexploited Tropical African Fruit (Cittrullus colocynthis)." Mouau.afribary.org. Mouau.afribary.org, 08 May. 2023, https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/comparative-study-of-the-chemical-compositions-and-antimicrobial-potentials-of-the-seed-pulp-and-shell-of-an-underexploited-tropical-african-fruit-cittrullus-colocynthis-7-2. Accessed 17 Nov. 2024.
MGBEODICHINMA, AMARACHI. "Comparative Study Of The Chemical Compositions And Antimicrobial Potentials Of The Seed, Pulp And Shell Of An Underexploited Tropical African Fruit (Cittrullus colocynthis).". Mouau.afribary.org, Mouau.afribary.org, 08 May. 2023. Web. 17 Nov. 2024. < https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/comparative-study-of-the-chemical-compositions-and-antimicrobial-potentials-of-the-seed-pulp-and-shell-of-an-underexploited-tropical-african-fruit-cittrullus-colocynthis-7-2 >.
MGBEODICHINMA, AMARACHI. "Comparative Study Of The Chemical Compositions And Antimicrobial Potentials Of The Seed, Pulp And Shell Of An Underexploited Tropical African Fruit (Cittrullus colocynthis)." Mouau.afribary.org (2023). Accessed 17 Nov. 2024. https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/comparative-study-of-the-chemical-compositions-and-antimicrobial-potentials-of-the-seed-pulp-and-shell-of-an-underexploited-tropical-african-fruit-cittrullus-colocynthis-7-2