ABSTRACT
The nutritional, anti-nutritional contents of calabash gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) seed flour and some nutritional values of its oil were evaluated using standard analytical methods. The proximate analysis ranged from 3.9 (ash) – 46.2% (fat). Phosphorous (554 mg/100 g) was found to be the most abundant mineral in the seed flour. Anti-nutrients recorded for the seed flour were 10.2% (saponin), 0.794 (cyanide), 1.31 (tannin), 10.3 (oxalate) and 19.3 mg/100 g (Phytate). The amino acids composition of the seed flour ranged from 0.746 (methionine) – 18.6 g/100 g cp (glutamic acid). The total PUFA and the total SFA contents of the seed oil were 63.6% and 20.6% respectively. The total phospholipid content of the seed oil was 987 mg/100 g while the total sterol value was 257 mg/100 g. The seeds of calabash gourd could be utilized as an alternative source of stable vegetable oil, mineral elements and protein for culinary and industrial applications.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Data Availability Statement
All data generated or used during the study appear in the submitted article.