STUDIES ON THE CHEMICAL-COMPOSITION OF THE SEEDS FROM CUCUMEROPSIS MANNII NAUDIN AND THEIR SUITABILITY AS A FOOD

Abstract

Dehulled seeds fromCucumeropsis Mannii Naudin mainly consist of lipids (40.3%) and proteins (34.5%). Carbohydrates, minerals, and water amount to 16.5, 3.7, and 5.9%, resp. From this composition a caloric value of 2 190 kJ/100 g is calculated. The major component of the oil linoleic acid (57.9%). Short-chain fatty acids are absent. All important macro and micro nutrient elements are present in sufficient amounts for human nutrition. The seeds are rich in vitamin E and in niacin (30.8 mg/100 g and 14.3 mg/100 g, resp.). Consumption of 100 g dehulled seeds covers the daily requirement of essential fatty acids, vitamin E and essential amino acids — methionine excepted. Besides starch (14.3g/100g) sucrose (1.14g/100g), raffinose (0.42g/100g) and stachyose (0.41g/100g) as well as traces of glucose and fructose are present. The proteins extracted with various solvents (H2O, 0.1M KCl-, 0.1 mM K3PO4-, and 0.5% SDS-solution) are studied by amino acid analysis, SDS-electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing. Molecular weights of these proteins are between 5,000 and 80,000 daltons with the fraction between 20,000 and 35,000 predominating. The seeds exhibit weak inhibition of trypsin and do not inhibitα-chymotrypsin.