Distribution of selected metals and phytochemicals in seeds and peels extract of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Mansf.) in Bayelsa State, Nigeria

The nutritional benefits of agricultural trash and the therapeutic properties of leftover agricultural product parts are still being thoroughly researched in Africa. This investigation looked at the distribution of specific metals and phytochemicals in Bayelsa state, Nigeria, watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) seed and peel samples. Watermelons (Citrullus lanatus) were picked for their seeds and peel samples after being brought from several gardens in Nigeria's Bayelsa state. Ether acetate was used to extract the samples. The extracts were evaluated at various concentrations, including 10 mg/ml, 5 mg/ml, 2.5 mg/ml, 1.25 mg/ml, 0.625 mg/ml, and 0.3125 mg/ml, for phytochemicals. The phytochemical screening of the ethyl acetate extracts of seed and peel samples, revealed the presence of flavonoids, terpenoids, tannins and cardiac glycosides in seed extracts while flavonoids, phenols, terpernoids, cardiac glycosides, carboxylic acids, quinine and xanthoproteins were detected in peel sample. The samples were digested with an aqua regia and analyzed for metals using atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). The total concentrations of the metals analyzed varied from 51.05 to 58.40 mg/kg,((5.20±54.73),mean concentrations of the individual metals from result showed iron Fe (28.70-32.60 mg/kg), Mn (11.67-14.14 mg/kg), K (0.24-0.25 mg/kg), Zn (7.89 -9.11 mg/kg), Ni (0.01 -0.03 mg/kg), Cu ( 0.42 -0.48 mg/kg), Mg (1.29 -1.47 mg/kg), Ca (0.56 -0.57 mg/kg) and Pb (0.00-0.01 mg/kg). Iron Fe concentrations were predominant in both seed and peel samples of (Citrullus lanatus). The concentrations of metal in seed and peel samples followed this order Fe > Mn > Zn > Mg > Ca > Cu > K > Ni > Pb and the concentrations of Fe and Mn were relatively higher than WHO daily intake permissible limits in Citrullus lanatus.