DETERMINATION OF MINERAL PROXIMATE AND PHYTOCHEMICAL CONTENTS OF WATER MELON SEEDS

The fruit popularly known as Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) is a local recipe eaten in Nigeria and African. The research evaluated the Proximate and phytochemical of the seeds of the fruit. The vitamin C was also determined. Proximate analysis revealed that the seeds have moisture content of (8.59±0.87). The seeds exhibit a remarkable crude lipid content (43.92±1.16), indicating a rich source of fat. Protein is most abundant in the seeds (33.71±3.33), with high-protein component. The vitamin C content and Energy, and the energy content is g low in seeds. The seeds have notable amounts of essential minerals. Calcium (Ca) is the most abundant mineral in the seeds (23.28 ± 0.30. Sodium (Na), potassium (K), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn) are present in lower quantities in the seeds, but the seeds remain rich in minerals overall, especially in calcium and phosphorus, The carbohydrate value for seed contained 1.57± 0.29 %. The mineral elements revealed that Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, P and Zn are much present with significant different P.