EVALUATION OF THE QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS AND NUTRIENT COMPOSITION OF CITRULLUS LANATUS

ABSTRACT There has been a shifted focus for the search of antioxidant compounds from natural sources in terms of disease control. Plants have proven to be a good source for treatment of various diseases especially degenerative diseases. Phytochemicals are naturally occurring bioactive compounds found in vegetables, fruits, spices, nuts etc., which contribute to the nutritional composition of plants; they include polyphenols and carotenoids. The search and use of phytochemicals which are rich sources of antioxidants, present in plants scavenge free radicals which reduces the onset of DNA damage and degenerative diseases. The aim of this study is to evaluate the qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analysis and nutrient composition of Citrullus lanatus. The ripe watermelon fruit was collected from Okha market, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria and was transported to the herbarium Unit for identification in the Department of Biotechnology, University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State and wass taken for analysis in the Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Benson Idahosa University. The aim of this study is to investigate the nutritional composition and phytochemical screening of the seeds of watermelon fruit obtained from Okha market, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. The nutritional composition and phytochemical constituents was investigated using standard analytical techniques. The nutritional constituents that was carried out include: carbohydrate content, crude protein, crude fiber, moisture content, ash content and fat, while the phytochemical constituents that were carried out include: terpenoids, carotenoids, flavonoids, steroids, alkanoids, tennis and glycosides. Results obtained for the nutritional composition were : 5.9% moisture content, 1.15% crude ash, 64.38%, crude fibre 6.4%, crude fat 4.98% and crude carbohydrate 17.19%. The findings of the result have revealed that the seeds of watermelon fruit are good sources of nutrients and also contain phytochemicals.