Five fruits and vegetable crops seeds (Water melon, Musk melon, Pumpkin, Bottle Gourd, Bitter Gourd ) belonging to melon family - Cucurbitaceae, contain food and biologically active substances having beneficial effect on the vital activity of the human body. These seeds are rich source of nutrients, vitamins, minerals, biologically active compounds, anti-bacterial, anticarcinogenic, antimicrobial.

1. Melon Family Seeds Underutilized Rich Source of
Human Nutrition - Potential Uses
Prof (Dr) Jai Singh (ARS)
M. Tech, Ph D, Retd Director ICAR System
Mob: 8958463808, E-mail: jsingh.sre@gmail.com
Introduction
Five fruits and vegetable crops seeds (Water melon, Musk melon,
Pumpkin, Bottle Gourd, Bitter Gourd ) belonging to melon family -
Cucurbitaceae, contain food and biologically active substances having
beneficial effect on the vital activity of the human body. These seeds
are rich source of nutrients, vitamins, minerals, biologically active
compounds, anti-bacterial, anticarcinogenic, antimicrobial. These seeds
are also called the bearers and power house of life. Availability of these five
seeds has been estimated to the tune of 110200 tonnes (given table) This
presentation is a mini-review of nutritional findings in different studies
conducted world – wide, therefore, dedicated to all of them.
1. Water Melon (Citrullus lanatus – gourd - family - Cucurbitaceae)
Seeds 2% FW.
Yield 25 – 30 t/ha,
fruit weight (4.5 –
11kg, production in
India 427,105 tonnes
2 % of fruit weight.
Seeds (200 – 800 per
fruit), seed yield 100
– 400 kg/ha.
Seed kernel
70.53 % of seed
weight
Seed husk 29.5
% of seed
weight

2. Proximate Composition of Water Melon Seeds
Seeds are 2 % of fruit weight. Rich source of vitamins, minerals, fatty acids,
phytosterols, protein, phenolic compounds, dietary fiber and citrulline.
Moisture 8.39, ash 2.86, fat 31.84, crude lipid 3.0, crude fiber 31.8, crude
protein 15.23, protein in kernel 38%, carbohydrates 7.03 ( all % of seeds)
Kernel: H2O 5.5%, Energy 557Kcal, Protein 28.33 %, fat 47.
4%,Carbohydrates 15.3 %; Ca 54mg, Mg 515 mg, Mn 1.6 mg, Cu 0.67 mg, Zinc
10.5 mg, P 755 mg, K 648 mg, Na 99 mg, Fe 7.28; Vitamins : B6, B12,
Minerals (mg/100g):
Na 0.32, iron 19.-0, zinc 7.0, copper 4.0, Ca 22, magnesium 52.0,
manganese 5.0, phosphorous 2.36, potassium 2.97.
Vitamins: Omega 3 and omega 6, vitamin A, C, E, K, B6, B12, Niacin,
Riboflavin, Folate, Monounsaturated and Polyunsaturated fatty acids,
powerful antioxidant, lower anti-nutritional properties, etc. Amino acids (
isoleucine, histidine, leucine, lysine, phenylalaline, methionine, threonine,
valine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, serine, arginine and alaline ranging
from 0.42 – 0.99%, 0.40 – 0.78%, 1.20 – 2.12%, 0.01 – 0.84%, 0.91 –
2.28%, 0.30 - 0.70%, 0.45 – 1.11%, 0.70 – 1.48%, 1.34 – 2.88%, 0.60 –
6.01%, 0.93 – 1.43%, 0.52 – 4.29% and 0.86 – 1.31%, respectively).
Seed Oil: Oil in whole seed 40 %, oil in kernel 50.36 %, contains
bioactive metabolites such as cucurbitacin, triterpenes, sterols, alkaloids,
vitamins and minerals,
Products: Whole seed flour, de – fatted seed flour, de - oiled seed cake
flour and kernel powder. Whole seed flour prepared by boiling for 10
minutes, then oven dry at 50°C for 12 hours contains crude protein 29%.
crude fiber 3.57%, carbohydrates 7.5 %. de – fatted seed flour, seed cake
(protein 14 – 15%). Uses - as protein supplement in fortified cookies, cakes,
bread, biscuits, smoothies roti, . Confectionery ( barfi, ladoo, halwa, energy bars,
desserts, ice cream all kinds of sweets, beverages), natural fibre, crunchy snacks, animal
feed, functional, nutraceutical, pharmaceutical and cosmeceutical products.
2. Musk Melon (Cucumis melo L. - Cucurbitaceae.) Seeds

3. Yield 17- 30 t/ha,
fruit weight (653 –
783g and 1.2 To
1.5kg ), production
in India 427,105
tonnes
Fresh seed weight/
fruit 42.7 – 119.7 g.
1000 seed weight 40
– 47 g
Husk 27 % 0f
seeds, 11 – 15 g
from 1000 seeds.
About 27 % of
seed weight
30 – 35 g kernel
from 1000 seeds
about 72 % of seed
weight
Proximate Composition of Musk Melon Seeds
Proximate composition: Seeds are 42.7g (Muskan) to 119.7g
(Kesar) per fruit. fat content ranged from 41.6 to 44.5%, protein 34.4 to
39.8%, crude fiber 4.5 to 8.5%, dietary fiber 0.2 %, carbohydrates 8.2 to
12.7%, soluble sugars 3.7 to 4.2, Kcal 550 %, and minerals 4.6 to 5.1%.
Rich in biologically active substances such as tocopherols, sterols,
phospholipids, anti oxidants,
Minerals (mg/100g): Na 0.21, Fe 144.7, Ca 0.1, Cd 0.2, Zn 21, Cu
2.53, Mn 22. 73, Mg 20.46, K 4.94, P 5.77.
Vitamins: Vitamin A, B6, C, E, K, niacin, total Phenolics (µg GAE/ mg
2.415, Crude Alkaloid Content (%) 8.63, Saponins Content (%)3.201,
Seed flour: Crude fiber 6.4%, crude fat 49%, protein 31%,
carbohydrates 7%,
Oil: 33 - 38% in seed and 33 – 50 % in kernel. omega-6, five main
favorable fatty acids compositionsm (68.98% Linoleic Acid, 15.84%
Oleic Acid, and 28.99% Trilinolein), pleasant aroma, deeply nourishing .
Products: Soup, Salad, juice, dressing for bread, cakes, confectionery,
and snack foods , smoothes, chikki, ice cream, pan cakes, barfi,
halwa, snacks, bread and buns , sandwiches, Cakes & Pastries ·
Cookies & Biscuits, halwa, namkeen, confectionery.
3. Pumpkin (Cucurbita – family- Cucurbitaceae,

4. In India production
5.073.678 tonnes
from 528.753 ha,
yield 9.6 t/ha
About 500 - 800
seed / fruit, weight
0.203 g per seed.
Seed husk 26.75 %
of seed
Seed Kernel 73.25
% of seed, weight
per kernel 0.160g
Proximate Composition of Pumpkin Seeds
Pumpkin seed contains t moisture 5.21 %, crude proteins content
22.5%, crude fat 50.5%, crude 7% ash 4.5%, carbohydrate 10.37%.,
crude fibre (11.69-24.85%), crude fat (31.9-41.37%), crude protein
(14.05-33.29%) and carbohydrates (8.66-27.35%). Seed Composition
C. protein 28.9 %, C. fat 31 75 %, C. fiber 4.59 %, Total Carb 27.8 %,
Phytic acid 1.867, rich sources of unsaturated oil, antioxidants, edibility,
Minerals: Mg 80.7, Ca 27.9, Na 134, K 309, Zn 0.85, Fe 28.2, Mn 7.23,
Cu 0.5 (all mg/100g)
Vitamins: B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, E, K,
Kernel Composition: C. protein 31.98 %, C. fat 38.29 %, C. fiber 4.26
%. Total Carb 33.1%, Phytic acid 1.547
Seed flour: fiber 18& db, fat 33 % db, protein 25 % db, carbohydrates
20%db.
Health benefits: Powerful antioxidants, cardio – protective, anti
cancerous, anti diabetes, immunity booster, strengthen bones,
Products: 10 – 30 % cake flour in gluten free breads, 5 % de fatted
seed pwder in sponge cake, fortified biscuits, cookies (30 %), 5 and 10
% substitution of pumpkin powder for bread,
4. Bottle Gourd (LAGENARIA SICERARIA - Cucurbitaceae ) Seeds:
Produced
1428296 tonnes
from 116939 ha
with 40 - 45 t/ha
yield
1000 seed
weight 143 g or
30.27 % of seed
weight
69.73 % of seed
weight

5. 0.11 – 0.36
g/seed
Proximate composition ( all DM basis): Moisture 4 - 9 % , crude fat
47.8 %, crude protein 35 %, protein 25 %, carbo 8.1 – 12.5 %, fiber
28.6 %,
Vitamins: B6, C, E, Thiamin , Riboflavin, Niacin, etc.
Mineral ( all mg /100 g dry matter) : Ca 48.26 , K 118.22, Na 52.04, Mg 56.74,
Mn 15.08, Fe 12.88 . Cu 5.12, Zn 19.43, P 94.24, Cobalt 0.25, Lead
1.22. Oil 33 % contains 39.22% fatty acid.
Nutritional composition :
17 essential amino acids ((isoleucine, leucine, lysine,
methionine, cysteine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, threonine, valine,
alanine, arginine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, glycine, histidine,
proline and serine) 41 % of protein,
potential source of protein, lipid, micro and macronutrients,
Seed Kernel: The seed kernel contains moisture, protein, fat,
carbohydrate, ash, and fibre of 2. 47, 30.72, 52.54, 8.3, 4.43, and
1.58%. respectively. , dietary essential mineral elements K, Na, Ca,
Mg, Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, Phosphorous, Cobalt, Chromium. High quality
protein.
Oil: Oil 33 % contains 39.22% fatty acid. antifungal and anti-
mycotoxigenic agents, potential source of protein, lipid, micro and macro
nutrients, rich in omega 6 and 9, Kernel oil 52.54%.
Seed Powder : fat 34.12 , protein 11.54, carbo 19.21, fiber 32.41. %
De – fatted powder : fat 2.17, protein 18.61, Carbo 31.18, Crude fiber
52.11 %.
Products : cake, Kernel oil (52.54%), de - seed cake powder , de-
oiled seed cake, fortified biscuits up to 50 % cake , cake, breads, etc,
Cookies with 30 % replacement, bottle guard seed cake powder, anti-
infection and anti-cancer chemicals,, Seed extract against chemical
hazard, Cosmatics,
5. Bitter Gourd (Momordica charantia - Cucurbitaceae family)

6. Produced 1334
thousand
tonnes from
99,000 ha with
1200 t/ha yield
13 % of FW, 27
– 39 seeds /
fruit, 160 – 190
g weight /1000
seeds
Kernel in testa
Kernel
Bitter Gourd seed:
Proximate Composition: seeds are 13 % proportion of fruit. White in unripe stage
and red in ripened stage. Calorific value 176.61 kcal / 100 g, lipids 24 % lipids, crude
fiber (18.5-46.1%).carbo 11.54, bitter component (momordicin) 3.8% (w/w)
Minerals: chromium (5.65 mg / 100 g), zinc(45.45 mg / 100 g), Ca, Mg, Na, Cu, Fe,
Zn, P, K.
Vitamins C.
Properties: quality protein meeting amino acid requirements /standards (
FAO/WHO/UNU), Natural antioxidants, anti microbial, antibacterial, anti-ulcer, anti-
inflammatory, anti-leukemic, anti-tumor [8] and anti-diabetic, anti- HIV protein of 30
kDa) - anti-HIV plant protein, , chemically active proteins (α and β
Momorcharins) and steroids, Alkaloid, anthelmintic in germ; β-momorcharin, Vicinem
Charantin, Momordicosides A and B, MAP30 (momordica Polypeptide-p, Phenols,
Carotenoids, plant phenolics, polyphenolic compounds, conjugated α linolenic acid ,
Seed Oil : Seeds Contain 35 to 40% of oil with fatty acid profile containing
monounsaturated fatty acids (3.33%), saturated fatty acids (36.71%) and poly
unsaturated fatty acids (59.96%), rich in stearic acid, oleic acid, and linoleic acid,
Major chemical constituents: are classified as urease cucurbitane-type
triterpenoids, cucurbitane-type triterpene glycosides, phenolic acids, flavonoids,
essential oils, fatty acids, amino acids, sterols, saponins and proteins
Health benefits: Traditional medicine to cure various health-related
problems such as cardiovascular and liver diseases, worms,
rheumatism, biologically active compounds like terpenes, alkaloids, fatty
acids, proteins and steroids have shown anti-fungal, anti-bacterial,
antiparasitic, anti-viral, hypoglycemic and anti-carcinogenic properties,
prevents diabetic complications. Seed extract has Cancer-Fighting
Properties These are also used as natural insecticides.
Major Edible Products

7. Deep fried
Sugar toasted Roasted Puffed
Namkeen Snacks Energy bars High protein energy
bar
Grain mix flour
Seed powder Seed flour Spiced flour
Grinded seeds Breads Biscuits Cookies
Cake Muffin Halwa Barfi
Ladoo Guzia Panjiri Idli

8. Seed Decortication / Dehusking Process Tools and Gadgets :
Step1: Separation, washing, cleaning, drying, fermentation, shelling,
grinding and so on.
Step 2. Salted Water boiling for 10 minutes. pinch each seed to remove
the shell.
Step 3: Roasting for 10 – 15 minutes at 250 oF, pinch each seed to
remove the shell.
Step 4: Roasting boiled seeds, pinch each seed to remove the shell.
beat with a mallet just hard to crack the hull
Gadgets:
sslightly crack the
seed thinner end by
pin / plier open take
out kernel.
Salted Water boiling
for 10 minutes. pinch
each seed to remove
the shell.
Cracking tool and
Kernel separation Seed Cracking
and Kernel
separation
Cracking by plier Cracking Plier Cracking
operation
Separated
kernels
Cracking by hand
pinch Mechanical
Cracker
Kernel
separation
machine
Kernel
separation
machine

9. 1. Physical Characteristics of Melon Family Seeds
Partculars Water
Melon
Musk
Melon
Pumpkin Bottle
Gourd
Bitter
Gourd
Area (“000” ha) 110 59 99 181 101
Production (‘000”
tonnes)
2787 1330 2117 2977 1214
Fruit Yield (t/ha) 18.75 20 - 27 18 - 20 20 - 37 9 - 12
Seed Yield
Number of plants
/ ha
9800 9800 -
10,000
2500 1089 -
3200
4000
Number of fruits
/ plant
2 - 4 2 - 4 4 - 5 12 - 14 10 - 12
Fruit weight (g) 1800 - 3600 650 –
730
1500 -
4000
780-850 100-120
Fruit Production /
plant (kg)
3.6 – 14.4 1.3 – 2.9 6 - 20 9.3 –
11.9
1 – 1.5
Number of seeds
/ fruit
106 - 500 20 250 635 -
655
21 - 28
000 seed weight
g
50 – 70 28 200 120 -
130
138 -
170
Average seed
rate / ha
49,00,000
/ 3.5 kg
1.5 - 3 kg 1 – 1.5 kg 3.5 – 6
kg
4 - 5 kg
Number of seeds
/ 000 g
14000 -
20000
35000 7140 30,000 4700 -
6700
Seed yield / fruit
g
5.4 – 5.9 70 – 112
fresh
50 – 53 63 – 73 4.81 -
9.41
Seed yield / ha
(kg)
250 - 350 200 -
300
300 - 500 200 -
300
54 - 232
Total seed
production
(“000” tonnes)
34 - 35 14.75 39.6 45.5 14.5
Seed used for
sowing 000
tonnes
0.4 0.133 0.124 0.86 0.454
Potential 34.1 14.6 39.5 44.6 14.05

10. availability 000
tonnes
Availability after
deducting 25 %
wastage 000
tonnes
25.6 11.0 29.6 33.5 10.5
Edibility yes yes yes yes Yes, not
red
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX