Chemical composition of kernels from some species ofCucurbitaceae grown in Nigeria

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Abstract
The seeds of lesser-known species —Cucumeropsis mannii, Lagenaria sicceraria varities 1 and 2 andTelfairia occidentalis, ofCucurbitaceae 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 ofC. mannii, L. Sicceraria var. 1 and 2 andT. occidentalis were 44.4%, 44.6%, 46.9% and 42.3% respectively. The crude fibre content for each of the two varieties ofL. sicceraria was 3.6% andT. occidentalis had 5.5%.Cucumeropsis mannii had the lowest (2.4%) fibre content. The carbohydrate contents forL. Sicceraria var. 2,C. mannii, andT. 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 andLagenaria 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.