Chemical Composition, Nutritional Values and Antibacterial Activities of Watermelon Seed (Citrullus lanatus)

Abstract

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines traditional medicine as the sum total of the knowledge, skills, and practices based on the theories, beliefs and experiences indigenous to different cultures, whether explicable or not, used in the maintenance of health as well as in the prevention, diagnosis, improvement or treatment of physical and mental illness. Plants are traditionally used for treatment of bacterial infections. The aim of this study was to investigate chemical composition, nutritional evaluation and antibacterial activities of watermelon seeds. The qualitative phytochemical analysis of watermelon indicated that alkaloids were moderately present, tannins, saponins, flavonoids, and phenols were all present. The quantitative analysis of watermelon indicated 3.080 mg/g for alkaloids, 0.304mg/g for phenols, 0.117 mg/g for tannins, 0.200mg/g for saponins and 2.675 mg/g for flavonoids. The vitamin composition of watermelon seeds indicated 0.03 mg/100 g for vitaminB1, 0.01 vitaminB2, 0.64 mg/100g for vitaminB3, 0.24 mg /100 g vitaminB6 and 0.01 for vitaminB12.The bioactivities of extract were tested, against Proteus mirabilis, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Necropsobacter rosorum, Tsukamurella hongkongensis, Lactobacillus sp, Staphylococcus petrasii, Neisseria sicca, Dietzi amaris, Pseudomonas oryzyhabitans, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Advenella incenata, Neiserria subflava and Serriatia marcescens. Researchers are advised to turn their attention towards plants products, which is most promising area in search of new biologically activity compounds with better activity against multi drug resistant strains and reduced antibiotic related side effects.

Review of studies published on the medicinal importance of different parts of Citrullus lanatus in the last ten years

“…The seed was observed in this review to enjoy the highest attention on antimicrobial activity with dif f erent claims such as Babaiwa et al, (2017) emphasizing the use of the ethyl acetate extract of CL seeds to treat a wild range of bacterial due to the presence of so me chemical compounds such as f atty acids, hexamethyl-2-ethyl acridine, gamma-tocopherol and methyl phthalate. The aqueous and methanolic extract of CL seed powder had been shown to have good antimicrobial properties (Sola et al, 2019). The antimicrobial ef f icacy of methanolic extract of CL seed was reported by Sathya and Shoba (2014).…”

Recent Advances in the Antibacterial Activities of Citrullus lanatus (Watermelon) By-Products

“…Consequently, the observed antibacterial properties of extracted melanin from C. lanatus seeds indicate its potential therapeutic efficacy in the traditional medicinal use of this plant in treating bacterial ailments such as diarrhea, gastrointestinal infections, respiratory disorders, and dermatological conditions. Sola et al [108] examined the chemical composition, nutritional assessment, and antibacterial properties of C. lanatus seeds. Watermelon seed powder was subjected to maceration with methanol at a 4:1 liquid-to-solid ratio for 24 h at RT.…”

Health Promoting Properties and Applications of Nu-Trients and Bioactives of Watermelon and Its By-Products

“…Due to the existence of many nutritious benefits, watermelon seeds have applications in a variety of culinary products. Sola et al found that watermelon seed extracts contain antimicrobial capabilities [99]. Furthermore, roasted watermelon seeds are used by customers as an appetite stimulant and to alleviate constipation [83].…”