Proximate and Phytochemical Compositions of Dried Seeds of Fluted Pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis)

Proximate and phytochemical analyses were carried out on dried fruited pumpkin (Telfaira occidentalis) seeds. Standard experimental procedure and statistical analysis using SPSS version 20.1 were carried out after triplicate evaluation of the sample. Results of the proximate analysis indicated that the dried seeds contains moderate percent of carbohydrate (11.43±0.92%) and fibre (15.71±0.74%), high percentage protein (34.56±1.36%) and lipid (32.50±1.08%), ash (4.40±0.02%) and moisture (1.40±0.01%) contents were low statistically. The qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analysis showed that dried seeds of Telfairia occidentalis possessed very low (statistically insignificant, p>0.05) level of cyanogenic glycoside (0.001±0.01 µg/g) which makes it non toxic and consumable. Tannin (0.488 ± 0.012 µg/g) and oxalate (0.194±0.01 µg/g) where low in percentage, while phylate (3.75±0.018 µg/g) and saponin (4.00±0.02 µg/g) levels were statistically high (p<0.05). The analysis revealed the sample as rich in protein and lipid, with moderate amounts of carbohydrate and fibre. It also indicates absence of cynogenic glycoside and low oxalate level which interfere with mineral absorption in the body. Hence, the seed is a very good protein source especially for patients with protein energy malnutrition (PEM), growing children and diabetic patients due to its rich energy source for body utilization and for extraction of cooking oil due to its high lipid content.