Proximate, Phytochemical and Vitamin Compositions of Cucumis metuliferus (Horned Melon) Rind
Achikanu Cosmas Ezekaibeya, Ani Onuabuchi Nnenna, Onyishi Chukwuebuka Kenechukwu
Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medical Research · pp. 40–50 · Published 18 May 2020
10.9734/jocamr/2020/v9i330144Abstract
Cucumis metuliferus also known as horned melon is a plant belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family which has been reported to have medicinal value. Every part of the plant is consumed, except the rind, although edible is mostly discarded as waste. Solid food waste contributes to greater percentage of pollution in our environment. Therefore, to minimize food wastage, the nutritional and medicinal value of the rind need to be evaluated to promote its usage. Hence, this study was aimed to investigate the proximate, phytochemical and vitamin compositions of the rind of Cucumis metuliferus. The analyses were carried out using standard methods. The proximate analyses showed that the rind contained high concentrations of carbohydrate (54.84%), moisture (18.40%) and crude fibre (11.34%); moderate concentration of crude fat (8.89%) with low concentration of ash (3.59%) and crude protein (2.95%). From the result of the phytochemical analysis, the rind contained varied concentrations of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, glycosides, terpenoids and phenol. The result also showed that the rind is rich in vitamins C, E, D, B9 and A with appreciable concentrations of vitamins B2, K, B1 and β-carotene which were all above the recommended daily vitamin allowance. The high concentration of these nutrients and phytochemicals proves that the rind of Cucumis metuliferus has nutritive and medicinal value. Therefore, the rind could be useful as food supplements and in pharmaceutical preparations.
Cited by 21
Ebhomienlen Jonathan Osemengbe, K. Omage, M. Azeke · Next Research · 2026
Alayla Guadalupe Ibarra-Manzanares, Z. G. Ibarra-Manzanares, Lluvia de Abril Alexandra Soriano-Melgar · Food and Humanity · 2026
Baskaran N, K. M, V. S · International Journal of Food Technology and Management · 2026
Folakemi E. Bernard-Awe, Y. Oluwafemi, E. A. Ekundayo · ABUAD International Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences · 2025
Mladen Rajaković, U. Gašić, Danka Bukvički · Journal of Molecular Structure · 2025
Magdalena Borecka, M. Karaś · Foods · 2025
R. Soare, M. Dinu, C. Băbeanu · Plants · 2024
D. Manjunathagowda, M. Pitchaimuthu, Virupakshi Hiremata · Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution · 2023
O. N. Ani, O. C. Ezeigwe, C. A. Agbo · Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medical Research · 2022
M. Y. Kizatova, A. O. Baykenov, K. A. Baigenzhinov · HERALD OF SCIENCE OF S. SEIFULLIN KAZAKH AGRO TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY · 2022
Related research
- Antimicrobial Activity, Phytochemical Screening and Nutrient Analysis of Tetrapleura tetraptera and Piper guineense — shares topic coverage
- Proximate and Anti-nutrient Contents of Kersting’s Groundnut (Macrotyloma geocarpum) Subjected to Different Fermentation Methods — shares topic coverage
- Antifungal Effects of Methanolic Extract of Stem Bark of Bridelia ferruginea Benth. Leaves of Aloe vera L. and Stem Bark of Alstonia boonei De Wild — shares topic coverage
- Effect of Fermentation on the Nutrient and Anti-nutrient Contents of African Bush Mango (Irvingia gabonensis) Seeds — shares topic coverage
- Yield, Quality and Shelf-life Responses of Three Varieties of Soybeans to Three Processing Temperatures Using the Vitagoat System of Soymilk Production — shares topic coverage
Article metrics
Real usage data collected on this platform.
0
Page views
0
PDF downloads
0
Outbound clicks
21
Citations
Views by country
Approximate, from request IP at view time — not citizenship or institution. Countries with fewer than 5 views are grouped as "Other".
No views recorded yet.
Traffic sources
Referring site, by host.
No traffic recorded yet.
Views and downloads exclude known bots/crawlers. Citations combines this platform's own DOI-resolved index with each external source's own reported total — see Cited by above for individually listed citing works. Last refreshed 0 seconds ago.