Characteristics of some nutritional composition of melon (Cucumis melo hybrid ‘ChunLi’) seeds

Summary Seeds from a melon hybrid ‘ChunLi’ were analysed for their proximate composition. The seeds contained high percentages of lipids (35.36%) and proteins (29.90%). Hexane‐extracted oil had acid, peroxide, iodine and saponification values of 1.51, 3.95, 89.5 and 226.73, respectively. Gas chromatographic analysis of the oil revealed the presence of twenty‐five fatty acids varying from C4 to C24 with the exception of C5, C7, C11 and C19. The concentrations of individual fatty acids varied from trace quantities to about 54.8%. Linoleic, oleic, palmitic and stearic acids were the principal fatty acids contributing to 53.9%, 12.1%, 23.9% and 5.7%, respectively, of the total fatty acids which had a relatively high percentage (67.5%) of unsaturated fatty acids. Seed proteins were rich in arginine, aspartic and glutamic acids while limiting amino acids were methionine and lysine.