Nutritional, Fatty Acid, and Oil Characteristics of Pumpkin and Melon Seeds

ABSTRACT Nutritional and oil characteristics of pumpkin and melon seeds were investigated. On a dry basis, the data obtained for the two seeds, respectively, were: crude oil 45.4 and 37.8%; crude protein, 32.3 and 25.2%; crude fiber, 12.1 and 15.4%; and ash, 4.65 and 3.85%. Food energy values were 2.83 and 2.59 MJ/100g, respectively. The seeds were found to have considerable amounts of essential minerals (K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn, and P). The defatted flour of the pumpkin and melon seeds contained, respectively: crude protein, 55.4 and 39.4%; crude fiber, 28.1 and 24.7%; and ash, 7.23 and 6.18%. The major fatty acid of the oils was linoleic (18:2) at concentrations of 43.1 and 64.6%, followed by oleic (18:1), 37.8 and 20.1%, respectively.