July 2014 Vol.2 No.4

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Original Research Article

Preliminary chemical Profile of Telfairia occidentalis Hook. F (Fluted pumpkin) Seed Shell

Verla*¹ A. W., E. N. Verla², P. Adowei³, A. Briggs⁴, E. Awa⁵, M. Horsfall⁶ Jnr and A. I. Spiff⁷

^{1, 3, 4, 6,7}Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, University of Port Harcourt, Choba, Nigeria.
²Department of Industrial Chemistry, Madonna University, Elele Campus, Rivers State, Nigeria.
³Biochemistry Laboratory, National Root Crop Research Institute, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria

*Corresponding Author’s Email: verngo@yahoo.com; Tel: +2347069288937

Accepted June 09, 2014

Abstract

Despite being the largest morphological part of fluted pumpkin, the seed shell has not been put into use either by man or animal. In the present study fluted pumkin seed shell was subjected to proximate, phytochemicals, elemental and antinutritional analysis and results compared to standard values. Proximate composition showed crude fibre, (8.24±0.22); carbohydrates, (64.91±3.07); fat and oil, (2.271±0.31); crude proteins (5.23±1.63); moisture, (9.63±1.17) and ash content (11.63±0.56). Elemental analysis showed that apart from organic carbon (30.88±0.90) sodium, (23.2±0.72); iron, (7.94±1.56); copper, (8.1±2.40); zinc, (3.0±15) and chromium (0.71±0.01) were appreciable, suggesting that the mesocarp could be a source of mineral. Alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, and tannins were present while toxicants in mg/100g showed oxalate, (17.81±1.60) phytate, (12.20±2.10) and hydrocyanide, (0.80±0.03). Results suggest possible utilisation of the fluted pumpkin seed shell as a food source, in medicine and as activated carbon precursor. However, antinutritional to nutrient ratios and other factors such as Na/K (38.8) could be the reason why the seed shell is not edible.

Keywords: Seed shell, Elemental, Antinutritional, Medicinal, Precursor.