Proximate Analysis of Watermelon Seed and Physicochemical Analysis of Its Oil

The objective of this research work is to determine the Proximate Analysis of watermelon seeds, and to investigate the physiochemical analysis of it oil. The fresh watermelon seeds collected from sellers within Sokoto town were washed with clean water, sun-dried for three days and powdered. Oil was extracted from the grinded seed samples using Soxhlet extraction. The Proximate Analysis of the seed showed that the seed had a moisture content of 4.3±0.29%, Ash content 3.6±0.29%, Crude Lipid 0.26±0.14%, Crude Protein 14.6±0.41%, Crude fibre 1.52±0.83%, Available Carbohydrate (54.4±1.17%) and   Nitrogen 2.3±0.07. The physiochemical Analysis of the oil showed that the high oil yield coupled with a partially high concentration of Fatty Acid makes the seed suitable as Food Supplement. It also enjoys Applications as industrial ingredients in soap production, cosmetic, and form ingredients.