Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) Oil

Abstract

Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus), member of the Cucurbitaceae family, has been cultivated for thousands of years as a food source for human consumption. Since developing countries alternately depend on non-conventional sources of protein that augment protein deficiency in diets. Watermelon seeds are reported a worthwhile source of protein due to high protein contents as well as important medicinal constituents. The seeds are rich in oil (37.8–45.4%), and protein (25.2–37%) having in precious amino acids. On the commercial scale, the oil is an important industrial raw material as a drying agent in glass paint and soap industry due to its high iodine value and saponification number. The economic importance, nutritional and medical traits of watermelon seed oil has made it curious to know properly. Therefore, this chapter will cover chemical profiling and functionality of watermelon seed oil along with their medicinal applications.