Extraction and evaluation of oil from water melon (citrullus lanatus) seed

The water melon (Citrullus lanatus) fruit belongs to the family of cucurbitaceae. The plant produces a special type of fruit known by botanists as a berry which has a thick rind (exocarp) and fleshy center (mesocarp and endocarp).1 Water melon fruit has a smooth exterior rind, green, juicy, sweet interior flesh (dark red). The inner rind being white or light green. This fruit contains about 6% sugar and 90% water by weight and a lot of nutrients like carbohydrate, fat, protein, minerals like calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and Zinc and Vitamins like vitamin B, C and notably Vitamin A through its concentration of betacarotene.2 It is also packed with some important natural and powerful antioxidants which travel through the body neutralizing free radicals which cause damage to human body Wolford et al.3 Water melon plays an important role in African as it is used to quench thirst when there is shortage of water.4 The seed of water melon (Citrullus lanatus) can be bruised and rubbed up with water to form an emulsion which can be used to cure catarrh infections, in disorder of the bowels, urinary passage and fever. It is also being used as worm expeller.5