Nutritional Analysis of Selected Cucurbitaceae Species

Abstract

The global consumption of conventional feed resources is presently close to production, therefore the need to search for alternative cum additional feed ingredients become imperative. Cucurbitaceae are flowering plants that occur in the tropical and sub-tropical vegetation, primarily in rainforest, vine thickets and sparsely vegetated rocky outcrops. This study explored the nutritional potential of the seeds of six selected Cucurbitaceae species: Cucurbita pepo, Cucumeropsis manii, Luffa cylindrica, Lagenaria scicereria, Adenopus breviflorus and Citrullus lanatus as feed resource. Pods of the six Cucurbitaceae species were from major markets across various parts of Oyo State, Nigeria. Results from the proximate analysis of the seeds revealed that there were significant (p<0.05) differences among the samples in all the parameters (moisture content, crude fibre, ash, protein, carbohydrate and fat) considered. Lagenaria sicereria recorded the highest values in crude protein, fat and ash content of 27.80%, 48.75% and 4.25% respectively while it had the least percentage moisture content (7.30%). Percentage carbohydrate content was highest in Luffa cylindrica (22.20%). Cucurbitaceae species could serve as an alternative feed stuff in animal nutrition when supplemented with other materials.