The study on the proximate composition of the water melon (Citrillus lanatus) seed, physiochemical and fatty acid compositions of the seed oil were carried out on samples front Bunza Agricultural fields, Bunza, Kebbi State. The mean values of4.10%, 1.10%, 32.40%, 22.20%, 31.63% and 3.39% were observed for ash, crude fibre, crude lipid, crude protein, carbohydrate and nitrogen respectively in the seeds. The values for physicochemical properties of the seed oil were 0.87 g/mol, 1.63, 32.40%, 215.50 mg KOH/g, 92.00 g12/100g, 3.80% and 1.10 mg KOH/g for specific gravity, refractive index at 280C, Oil yield, saponification, iodine, free fatty acid and acid respectively. Similarly, the mean values for the fatty acid profile in the oil were 10.360 0, 9.12%, 17.19% and 62.38%, for palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid and linoleic acid respectively. The low value for the free fatty acid indicated that the oil may have an indefinite shelf life when stored in a cool and dry place. Similarly, the high values for linoleic and oleic acids makes the oil to be useful in both nutritional and in medical applications.
Key words: Water melon, seed oil, Proximate, Physicochemical, Fatty acid
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