Asian Journal of Chemical Sciences 6(3): 1-13, 2019; Article no.AJOCS.48244 ISSN: 2456-7795 Evaluation of the Chemical and Oil Composition of Balsam Apple (Momordica balsamina) seed B. I. Yerima1* and A. Umar1 1Department of Chemistry, Gombe State University, P.M.B 127, Tudun Wada, Gombe State, Nigeria. Authors’ contributions This work was carried out in collaboration between both authors. Author BIY designed the study, wrote the protocol and wrote the first draft of the manuscript while author UA managed the analyses of the study, literature searches and statistical analysis. Both authors read and approved the final manuscript. Article Information DOI: 10.9734/AJOCS/2019/v6i318998 Editor(s): (1) Dr. Md. Zakir Hossen, Professor, Department of Agricultural Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Bangladesh. Reviewers: (1) Claudia Yolanda Reyes, University of the Amazon, Colombia. (2) Dr. Rupali Sengupta, SNDT Women’s University, India. Complete Peer review History: http://www.sdiarticle4.com/review-history/48244 Received 10 February 2019 Original Research Article Accepted 14 April 2019 Published 18 October 2019 ABSTRACT This research is aimed at the proximate chemical analysis of Momordica balsamina seeds with some properties of the oil. The results of the study showed that the seeds has high percentage of crude lipids, (38.77±0.15%) crude carbohydrates, (31.46±0.14%), crude proteins, (20.25±0.10%), moisture content, (5.25±0.25) and crude fibre, (1.67±0.20) as the least, with calorific value of (486.22Kcal) and some selected minerals Na, Mg, Ca, Fe with the concentration, 7.5, 61.5, 42, and 6.2(mg/100 g) respectively. So also, the oil indicated to have acid value of 0.426 and Saponification value of 183.4.Hence Momordica balsamina seeds could be a good source of food supplement. Keywords: Composition; evaluation; Momordica balsamina; minerals. 1. INTRODUCTION irregular existence of the fruits which looks as if they have been bitten; mordeo a Latin word Momordica balsamina with the genus means bit. But Jackson [1] did not agree with Momordica refers to a seed that is sculptured or this explanation. Balsam was derived from the _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ *Corresponding author: E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]; Yerima and Umar; AJOCS, 6(3): 1-13, 2019; Article no.AJOCS.48244 Latin balsamum and refers the one of the Carbohydrates performs vital role in living curatives uses of the plant. organisms. Sugar notably glucose are essential intermediates in the conversion of food to The English translation of the name balsam energy. Carbohydrate can be classified into apple also known in “Hausa language” as simple sugar and complex sugar. “garahunu”and in “Waja language”in northern part of Nigeria as “kakandi”. They are recognized Simple sugars are crystalline soluble in water by the seeds that are always enveloped in bright and sweet taste. Structurally they can be red pulp. Most of these plants are in tropical subdivided into monosaccharide example Africa. glucose and disaccharide example sucrose. Meeuse [2] reported that, this Momordica Complex sugars are also known as balsamina species is not discussed in any of the polysaccharide. They are non-crystalline, common standard horticultural books on native insoluble and tasteless substance, example South African plants. Though, its natural starch and cellulose. environment and ecology can be used as guiding principle. The Balsam apple can be Glucose is the first products of photosynthesis; grown-up from seed in wide areas of land before the process whereby green plants manufacture the undeveloped plants can be protected against food. In this process carbon (iv) oxide and water drought, severe frost and intense sunlight. As a are combined to form glucose (C6H12O6), the climber, the stems the need to be supported give energy required for reaction comes from the an eye-catching effect to the viewers. sunlight [5]. Sunlight Momordica balsamina plant is widely distributed 6CO2 + 6H2O + Energy C6H12O6 + 6O2 throughout the entire areas of the local Chlorophyll government of the state of Gombe in Nigeria. 1.2.2 Protein 1.1 Background of study Every dynamic function of living being depends on proteins, in-short the importance of proteins Seeds of plants play a very important role in cannot be over emphasized in living organism. providing essential vitamins and minerals for Proteins are mainly use as building materials by proper maintenance of human health [3]. living things specially animals. Some protein speeds up a chemical reaction while others play According to Hussain et al. [4] the nutritional in storage, transport, cellular communication, value of seed of plant are rich in vegetable oils, movement and defense against foreign proteins and some mineral in addition provides substance. medicine. And since no available studies was done on proximate analysis of Momordica Life would not be possible without enzymes; balsamina seed, it would be a welcome idea to most of which are proteins as reported by determine the proximate chemical analysis of the Jackson [1]. Momordica balsamina seed, to obtain a data base for more elaborate studies on the seed. 1.2.3 Fats and oils Fats are the main content of the storage fats 1.2 Chemical Composition cells in animals and are often of important food reserves for animals. The main source of fats is A short description of the chemistry of the from animals. Fat-lipids refers to as oil and can chemical component of these studies is given be obtained from plants such as Corn oil, Palm below. oil and butter. Chemically, fats and oil are carboxylic ester derive from single alcohol, 1.2.1 Carbohydrates glycerol, HOCH2CH2OHCH2OH and are known as glycerides as reported by Morrison and Boyd Carbohydrate is one the group of organic [5]. compounds that have the general formula Cx(H2O)y. For example fructose obtained from 1.2.4 Tannins fruits is often written with the formula C6H12O6 which can be presented as Cx (H2O)y where x is Katie and Richard [6] reported that, tannin (also 6 and y is 6 too. called organic, vegetable, natural tannins or 2 Yerima and Umar; AJOCS, 6(3): 1-13, 2019; Article no.AJOCS.48244 sometimes called tannoid that is a biomolecule 1.2.6 Phytate different from modern synthetic tannin) is astringent, normally bitter plant containing Phytic acid with the molecular formula polyphenolic compound that fixes to and C6H18O24P6, inositol hexakisphosphate (IP6) precipitates proteins together with many other Inositol-polyphosphate 5-phosphatase or phytate organic compounds together with amino acids when in salt arrangement), is the primary storing and alkaloids. form of phosphorus in several plant tissues, exclusively fiber and seeds. It can be available in The tannins are widely scattered in many cereals and grains. Phytate is not consumable to species of plants, where they play a role in the humans’ beings or non-ruminant animals, hence protection from possible predation, and possibly it is not a source of any inositol or phosphate if serving as pesticides and in plant growth consumed directly. Furthermore, phytic acid regulation as hormone. The astringency from the chelates and thus makes unobservable, certain tannins causes the dry and puckery feeling in the important negligible minerals like zinc and iron, mouth following the consumption of unripe fruit and macro minerals such as calcium and or red wine. Likewise, the annihilation or magnesium; phytic refers unambiguously to the adjustment of tannins by means of time plays a calcium or magnesium salt form of phytic acid, vital portion in the maturing of fruit and the [8]. rancidity of wine. 1.3 Aim and Objectives of the Study Fundamentally, tannins are spread in species throughout the plant kingdom. They are normally 1.3.1 Aim available in both gymnosperms as fit as angiosperms. Most families of dicot comprise tannin-free species (which are confirmed by their The study aim is to determine the proximate ability to precipitate proteins). The most plentiful chemical content of Momordica balsamina seed polyphenols are the condensed tannins, found in and some properties of the oil in the seed almost all families of plants, and containing up to comparing it with some related reported 50% of vegetations that are dehydrated. literature. Tropical woods tannins tend to possess a 1.3.2 Objectives potential purifying nature rather than that of the Gallic type existing in temperate woodlands The study would be carried out through the plants. following objectives; 1.2.5 Oxalates a. Determine the water content of Momordica balsamina seed. Streitwieser et al. [7], reported that oxalate with b. Determine the mineral content of the seed. 2- the molecular formula C2O4 are found in c. Determine oil content of the seed. numerous plants, wherever it is synthesized via d. Determine the crude proteins of the seed. the partial oxidation of carbohydrates. Oxalate- e. Determine the crude fibre of the seed. rich plants comprises of plants like fat hen f. Determine the percentage of oil content ("lamb's quarters"), sorrel, along with several the seed. oxalis species. Additional “edible plants that contain significant concentrations of oxalates in 1.4 Limitation of the Study decreasing order as follows star fruit (carambola), black pepper, parsley, poppy seed, This research was carried out on proximate amaranth, spinach, chard, beets, cocoa, chemical analysis of Momordica balsamina chocolate, mostnuts, most berries, fishtail palms, seeds and some physical properties of its oil. New Zealand spinach (Tetragonia And the samples were collected only in Gombe tetragonioides) and beans. Leaves of the tea state of the Nigeria. plant (Camellia sinensis) contained the greatest measured concentrations of oxalic acid relative 1.5 Significance of the Study to other plants. However, the beverage derived by fermentation in hot water typically holds only The plants Momordica balsamina has been low to moderate amounts of oxalic acid per known with its bitter edible leaves, this study will serving due to the insignificant mass of leaves help to know whether the seed will be nutritive or used for brewing” [7].