Abstract

RAMIREZ PIMENTEL, Juan Gabriel et al. Characterization of storage proteins and mineral content melon seed (Cucumis melo L.). Rev. Mex. Cienc. Agríc [online]. 2016, vol.7, n.7, pp.1667-1678. ISSN 2007-0934.

The chinese melon seed has been used traditionally to make horchata; however, it has lost the habit of consuming it. To expand the knowledge of this plant resource reservation soluble proteins were extracted from the seed. The total protein content was 27.34% for cantaloupe and 24.9% for honeydew (smooth). The globulins constitute the majority faction and prolamins, the minority. In the electrophoretic pattern shows globulin fraction abundant and well-defined bands. The precipitated proteins with hydrochloric acid or cold showed an electrophoretic pattern similar in both varieties. Proteins were extracted at pH values best between 5 and 12, but not values of 2 to 4. The treatment with trypsin and chymotrypsin showed accumulation of bands on the front of the gel, demonstrating the presence of digested peptides. The inhibitory activity against trypsin is greater at the albumins fraction with 741 UI mL-1 and globulin fraction with 587 UI mL-1. The mineral content was 0.5% for phosphorus and magnesium 0.28 for cantaloupe; for honeydew was 0.36% for potassium and 0.28% for phosphorus. The oil content was 35.8% in seed cantaloupe and 23.2% in the honeydew, which is known to 67.5% are unsaturated fatty acids; oil was amber color, pleasant odor. The use of melon seed is a plant resource to be promoted for its high content of protein and oil, as it is valuable for human consumption. It can also be used in the formulation of livestock feed or cultured insect larvae in the laboratory.

Keywords : digestibility; marginal resource; oil; protein reserve.