Published in Scientific Bulletin. Series F. Biotechnologies, Vol. XXIV, Issue 2
Written by Indira GALIT, Alexandru Cristian GROSU, Ovidiu POPA, Narcisa BĂBEANU
Oil extracts from a number of many fruits, nuts and seeds are being used in soap making, cooking, pharmaceutical products and other industries. The seeds of numerous fruits are thrown out as waste despite of their nutritional values. Many of them represent an important source of high quality protein and vitamins. Watermelon seed oil has a large concentration of unsaturated fatty acids. The low acid, peroxide and iodine values of the oil together with some favourable functional properties makes the watermelon seed and seed oil suitable for human use rather than as a waste where the crop is grown in abundance. The study was realized using Soxhlet method and micro-Kjeldahl. Citrullus lanatus seed oil has a lot of nutritional compounds. As mineral content is shown that is rich in phosphorus 30.8 mg, magnesium 2.98 mg and sodium 2.3 mg. The fatty acid composition is predominant by linoleic acid 65.7%, polyunsaturated fatty acid 66.03% and saturated fatty acids 17.87%.
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