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(e)-ISSN: 2250-3013, (p)-ISSN: 2319-4219
Volume 7, Issue 11 Version. 1 (November 2017), PP. 01-07

A comprehensive review on watermelon seed oil – an

underutilized product
Reetapa Biswas1, Subarna Ghosal2, Alok Chattopadhyay3 and Santa Datta (De)4
1, 2, 4
(Department of Home Science, Food and Nutrition Division, University of Calcutta, India)
3
(Department of Physiology, Harimohan Ghosh College, University of Calcutta, India)

Corresponding Author: Reetapa Biswas

Abstract: Watermelon seed is one of the underexplored and unutilized sources of oil containing essential fatty
acids, vitamin-E, minerals and also have anti-oxidant activity and is suitable for cooking. The objective of this
study is to aware people about the properties of watermelon seed oil and the potential benefits of the oil.
According to most of the researchers’ watermelon seed oil has positive impact on growth and it has
cardioprotective, hepatoprotective and anti-diabetic effects. After thorough comprehensive toxicological
investigation, animal studies, physicochemical characteristics and nutritional analysis, it is recommended that it
is the demand of time to explore its commercial potential.
Keywords: animal studies, fatty acids, physicochemical characteristics, watermelon seed oil.
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Date of Submission: 28-10-2017 Date of acceptance: 10-11-2017
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I. INTRODUCTION
Oils extracted from plant sources have a rich history of use by local people as a source of food, energy,
medicine and for cosmetic applications. The continued increase in human population has resulted in the rise in
the demand as well as the price of edible oils, leading to the search for alternative unconventional sources of
oils, particularly in the developing countries. There are hundreds of underexplored plant seeds rich in oil
suitable for edible or industrial purposes [1]. One of such underutilized product is watermelon seed oil, rich in
linoleic acid (~64.5%). It is used for frying and cooking in some African and Middle Eastern American
countries owning to its unique flavor [2]. Also to prevent solid waste related hazards to the environment, effort
should be made to increase the utilization of these unconventional food wastes. Knowledge of the properties of
the watermelon seed oil may offer insight into the nature and potential benefits of the oil.

1.1. Plant description

Watermelon, a vine-like flowering plant, is a member of the family of cucumber
(Cucurbitacea). It is a drought tolerant crop which is cultivated chiefly in tropical, semi tropical and rigid
regions of the world. Different varieties of watermelon are available and some of the varieties are: sugar baby,
golden midget, star light, jubilee, yellow baby etc. They not only vary on their size (large or small) but also in
their shape (oval, round or oblong) and colour of the flesh (red, orange and yellow). Sweet watermelon
originates from West, not southern Africa, as previously believed, and the South African citron melon has been
independently domesticated. The type specimen of the name Citrullus lanatus, prepared by a Linnaean
collector in South Africa in 1773, is not the species now known as watermelon. Instead, it is a representative of
another species that is sister to C. ecirrhosus, a tendril-less South African endemic. The closest relative of the
watermelon is a West African species. Nuclear and plastid data furthermore reveal that there are seven species
of Citrullus, not four as assumed. They are as follows- Citrullus naudinianus, C. colocynthis, C. rehmi,
Citrullus amarus, with the synonyms C. caffer and C. lanatus var. citroides, C. ecirrhosus [3]. The species of
watermelon which is widely available and eaten in Kolkata (India) is known as Citrullus vulgaris. It is round in
shape, has dark green colored rind and red pulp which is sweet in taste.

C. vulgaris plant C. vulgaris fruit

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 A comprehensive review on watermelon seed oil – an underutilized product

According to Armen Takhtajan, the accepted name of this plant is given below-

1.2. Taxonomical classification [4]

Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai. syn.
Citrullus vulgaris Schrad.
Family : Cucurbitaceae
Order : Cucurbitales
Superorder : Violane
Subclass : Dilleniidae

II. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

 To study the scientific literature of different species of watermelon.
 To compile the physicochemical properties, nutritional components and bioactive phytochemicals present in
watermelon seed oil of different species.
 To map out the information regarding the therapeutic benefits and the physiological effects of watermelon
seed oil.

III. REVIEWS ON WATERMELON SEED OIL

3.1. In-vitro analysis of watermelon seed oil
3.1.1. Analysis of some important fatty acids
NAME OF NAME OF PALMITIC STEARIC OLEIC LINOLEIC LINOLENIC
THE THE ACID (%) ACID (%) ACID (%) ACID (%) ACID (%)
AUTHOR SPECIES
Muhammad Citrullus 15.47 12.61 20.53 50.78 0.14
Waqar lanatus
Azeem et.al,
2015[5]
Neuza Jorge 9.84 6.36 10.8 72.6 0.15
et.al, 2015[6]
Edidiong A. 10.57 8.333 13.65 62.14 5.293
Essien et.al,
2013[7]
S. Raziq Sugar baby 15.0 11.2 21.2 51.1
et.al, 2012[8] QF-12 15.1 12.5 20.2 50.5
DWH-21y 16.2 13.8 23.0 45.1
Red circle-1885 14.3 12.3 20.2 51.2
M.K. Citrullus
Sabahel lanatus
Khier et.al, White 13 18 11 68
2011[9] Black 15 16 11 68
OM Oluba 13.5 13.7 14.6 56.9 0.5
et.al,
2008[10]
Odjobo Citrullus 14.42 9.01 0.33 76.25
Benedict vulgaris
Onoriode
et.al,
2015[11]
Rahul 10.64 6.33 15.65 64.32 5.14
Shivaji
Adnaik et.al,
2015[12]
Zaharaddeen 14.42 9.01 0.33 76.24
N. Garba
et.al,
2014[13]

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 A comprehensive review on watermelon seed oil – an underutilized product

NAME OF NAME OF PALMITIC STEARIC OLEIC LINOLEIC LINOLENIC

THE THE ACID (%) ACID (%) ACID (%) ACID (%) ACID (%)
AUTHOR SPECIES
Olubunmi 12.49 9.94 61.75
Atolani
et.al,
2012[14]
T.A El- 11.30 10.24 18.07 59.64 0.35
Adawy et.al,
2001[15]
Mirjana Citrullus 12.42 10.2 14.2 62.2 1.02
Milovanovic colocynthis
et al, 2005[2]
Hiba Riaz et 4.30 1.83 33.66 54.70 2.15
al, 2015[16]

3.1.2. Physicochemical characteristics

NAME OF NAME SPECIFIC REFRAC- ACID SAPONI- IODINE PER-
THE OF THE GRAVITY TIVE VALUE FICATION VALUE OXIDE
AUTHOR SPECIES INDEX VALUE VALUE
Neuza Jorge Citrullus 1.466 5.05 mg 212.6 128.8 3.40 meq/
et.al, 2015[6] lanatus (400C) KOH/ g mgKOH/g g/100g kg
Muhammad 1.468 198 107.51 1.31 meq
Waqar (400C) mgKOH/g g/100g /kg
Azeem et.al,
2015[5]
A.C.C. 0.87 (250C) 6.10 mg 205.3 28.51 2.80
Egbuonu KOH/ g mgKOH/g g/100g meq/kg
et.al,
2015[17]
Duduyemi 0.85 1.47 2.37 mg 183.13 121.51
et.al, NaOH/ g mgNaOH/g Wijs
2013[18]
Edidiong A. 0.9129 1.35 7.09 mg 220.19 114.94 20.0 meq
Essien et.al, KOH/ g mgKOH/g g/100g /kg
2013[7]
S. Raziq Sugar baby 1.4665 1.99.81 97.10 2.90 meq
et.al, 2012[8] (400C) mgKOH/g g/100g O2/kg
QF-12 1.4668 205.57 103.25 5.06 meq
(400C) mgKOH/g g/100g O2/kg
DWH-21y 1.4667 196.84 116.32 3.30 meq
(400C) mgKOH/g g/100g O2/kg
Red circle- 1.4670 190.20 114.00 4.62 meq
1885 (400C) mgKOH/g g/100g O2/kg
M.K. White 0.898 1.468 16 % 609 85 mg/g 12 meq
Sabahel g/cm3 mgKOH/g O2/kg
Khier et.al, Black 0.894 1.467 32 % 625 80 mg/g 9 meq
2011[9] g/cm3 mgKOH/g O2/kg
AA Taiwo Oven dried 0.86 g/ml 1.459 13.40 117.81 59.69 18.75 %
et. al, (300C) mg mgKOH/g g/100g
2008[19] NaOH/ g
Sun - dried 0.86 g/ml 1.458 8.98 mg 115.94 58.42 18.75 %
NaOH/ g mgKOH/g g/100g
OM Oluba 0.93 1.45 3.5 mg 192.0 110.0 8.3
et.al, KOH/ g mgKOH/g mg/g
2008[10]

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 A comprehensive review on watermelon seed oil – an underutilized product

NAME OF NAME SPECIFIC REFRAC- ACID SAPONI- IODINE PER-

THE OF THE GRAVITY TIVE VALUE FICATION VALUE OXIDE
AUTHOR SPECIES INDEX VALUE VALUE
Odjobo Citrullus 0.86 g/ml 1.458 9.58 % 255.26 58.54 10 meq /kg
Benedict vulgaris mgKOH/g g/100g
Onoriode
et.al,
2015[11]
Rahul 0.915 1.46 6.48 mg 132.33 123 21 meq /kg
Shivaji KOH/ g mgKOH/g g/100g
Adnaik et.al,
2015[12]
Justina Y. 0.7935 1.464 2.83 mg 130.53 mg 142.50 17.89
Talabi et al, KOH/ g KOH/g mg/g meq/kg
2014[20]
Zaharaddeen 0.86 9.58 mg 255.26 58.54 10 meq/g
N. Garba KOH/ g mgKOH/g g/100g
et.al,
2014[13]
T.A El- 0.919 1.4696 2.82 mg 201 115 3.40
Adawy et.al, (250C) (250C) KOH/ g mgKOH/g g/100g meq/kg
2001[15]
Mirjana Citrullus 0.914 1.4733 1.00 188 119 7.9 mmol
Milovanovic colocynthis kg/dm3 (200C) mgKOH/ mgKOH/g g/100g O2/kg
et al, 2005[2] (200C) g
Hiba Riaz et 0.8860 1.4873 3.91 mg 196.66 119.53 6.97 meq
al, 2015[16] g/cm3 (200C) KOH/ g mgKOH/g g/100g O2/kg

3.1.3. Mineral content

NAME OF NAME OF Ca Mg Fe Mn Zn Na K
THE THE
AUTHOR SPECIES
Zaharaddeen Citrullus 1.40 ppm 5.75 2.10 ppm 4.80 3.80
N. Garba vulgaris ppm ppm ppm
et.al,
2014[13]
Citrullus
M.K. lanatus 0.7 mg/g 11 3.3 1.1 μg/ml 0.8 μg/ml
Sabahel White mg/g μg/ml
Khier et.al, Black 1.1 mg/g 11 7.5 0.2 μg/ml 2.5 μg/ml
2011[9] mg/g μg/ml

3.1.4. Tocopherol and vitamin-E content

NAME OF NAME OF α- -TOCO- α- TOTAL VITAMIN
THE THE SPECIES TOCO- PHEROL TOCO- TOCO- -E
AUTHOR PHEROL PHEROL PHEROL

Hiba Riaz Citrullus 1.90 0.32

et al, 2015[16] colocynthis g/100g g/100g

Ejoh SI et. Citrullus vulgaris 20.1

al, 2013[21] mg/100g
Neuza Citrullus lanatus 11.7 715.6 20.8 748.1
Jorge et.al, mg/kg mg/kg mg/kg mg/kg
2015[6]

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 A comprehensive review on watermelon seed oil – an underutilized product

Muhammad 127.49 55.26

Waqar Azeem mg/kg mg/kg
et.al, 2015[5]
NAME OF NAME OF α- -TOCO- α- TOTAL VITAMIN
THE THE SPECIES TOCO- PHEROL TOCO- TOCO- -E
AUTHOR PHEROL PHEROL PHEROL

S. Raziq Sugar baby 195.6 12.3 207.9

et.al, 2012[8] mg/kg mg/kg mg/kg
QF-12 164.3 58.3 222.6
mg/kg mg/kg mg/kg
DWH-21y 122.0 9.1 131.1
mg/kg mg/kg mg/kg
Red circle- 120.6 20.0 140.6
1885 mg/kg mg/kg mg/kg

The variation of fatty acids, physicochemical properties, minerals, tocopherol and vitamin – E content
among the same species of watermelon seed oil have been observed after the thorough review. The reason of
this variation may be due to the differences in variety of the same species in different countries, and difference
of soil and climatic condition of different geographical areas.

3.1.5. Antioxidant assay

Brine shrimp toxicity test and DPPH free radical scavenging assay were performed by Olubunmi
Atolani et.al to determine the degree of acute and lethal toxicity and antioxidant potential of Citrullus vulgaris
seed oil. The oil showed moderate cytotoxicity, and antioxidant potential of about 56% at 1 mg/ml
concentration which was significantly more than the reference compounds α –tocopherol [14]. Neuza Jorge et.al,
in the year 2015 estimated 30.6% DPPH free radical scavenging activity in Citrullus lanatus seed oil which
might be due to the presence of high amount of total phenolic compounds (1,428.9  17.00 mg/kg) and total
tocopherol (748.1 mg/kg) [6].

3.2. Animal Experiments on the nutritional and physiological effects of watermelon seed oil
3.2.1. Edibility of the oil
The characteristics and composition of the crude oil extracted from Citrullus colocynthis seeds were
examined. Feeding the oil at 5 and 10% of the diet to one- day- old chicks had no significant effect on body
weight, feed consumption or feed efficiency as compared to feeding corn oil at the same levels. The oil did not
show any toxicity effects too. Based on these results, Citrullus colocynthis oil might be of some potential use for
animal feed and/or human consumption [22].

3.2.2. Effect on growth

Olarewaju M. Oluba et.al and George O. Eidangbe et.al. in the year 2011 and 2010 respectively
showed the effect of feeding Citrullus lanatus (Egusi melon) seed oil diet on body weight of rats after 6weeks
experimental period. Both the study showed that there were insignificant differences in food intake among the
control and experimental group of rats but significantly (p < 0.05) less weight gained by the egusi melon seed
oil fed group of rats than that of the control group, which might be due to low total body fat content among the
experimental group of rats [23, 24].

3.2.3. Cardioprotective effect

Olarewaju M. Oluba et.al and George O. Eidangbe et.al. in the year 2011and 2010 respectively showed
the effect of feeding Citrullus lanatus (Egusi melon) seed oil (EMO) diet on lipid profile of rats after
experimental period of 6weeks. These 2 studies showed that serum and hepatic lipid profile improved
significantly among the EMO fed group of rats [23, 24]. O. Oluba et.al conducted a study on EMO in the year
2007. The extracted oil was used in diet formulation and fed (as a supplement to cholesterol-based diet) to rats
for a period of 6 weeks to determine its effect on serum lipids. EMO with a rich content of polyunsaturated fatty
acid was found to produce a significant reduction (p<0.05) in serum total, free and esterified cholesterol and
triglyceride concentrations. Histopathological examination showed that egusi melon oil reduced foam cell
formation and inhibited smooth muscle cell migration in the blood vessel of rats [25].
3.2.4. Hepatoprotective effect

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 A comprehensive review on watermelon seed oil – an underutilized product

Citrullus lanatus seed oil; CLSO (125mg) and CLSO (250mg) were administered orally for 10 days in
CCl4 induced rats and compared with standard silymarin (100 mg/kg) orally. ALT, AST and ALP levels, which
were increased due to CCl4 induced liver damage decreases significantly among the treated groups and are
comparable with standard drug silymarin [26]. O. Oluba et.al conducted a study on EMO in the year 2007. The
extracted oil was used in diet formulation and fed (as a supplement to cholesterol-based diet) to rats for a period
of 6 weeks to determine its effect on serum activities of LDH (Lactate dehydrogenase), ALT (alanine
Aminotransferase), AST (aspartate aminotransferase), and γ-GT (gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase). Significant
reduction (p<0.05) in serum activities of the enzymes were observed in the egusi melon oil-fed rats [25].
3.2.5. Anti-diabetic effect
Study conducted by N. Sebbagh et.al., evaluated the differential effects of diets enriched with C. colocynthis,
sunflower or olive oils on the pancreatic β-cell mass in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes in rats. Finally, at
the end of the experiment, the olive- and sunflower-oil supplementation showed less protective effect compared
with C. colocynthis oil against hyperglycaemia. Furthermore, the HOMA (Homeostasis Model Assessment)
scores appear to support an effect of C. colocynthis to increase insulin action. Taken altogether, the data suggest
the partial preservation of functional β-cell mass in the latter diet group, emphasizing the specific effect of C.
colocynthis compared with both olive and sunflower oils [27].

3.2.6. Effect on sex hormones

The effect of some traditionally extracted edible seed oils (sesame, peanut and melon oils) on some sex
hormones – prolactin, progesterone, testosterone, estradiol, luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating
hormone (FSH) of albino wistar rats was studied. The results indicated that 5% and 10% supplemented C.
lanatus seed oil caused significant increase (p < 0.05) in prolactin level (with a corresponding decrease in
progesterone), LH, estradiol and testosterone relative to the controls [28].

IV. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Keeping in view the results reported in the above research articles, it is reasonable to say that
watermelon seed oil could be a potential source of nutrients especially the essential fatty acids (Oleic and
Linoleic acids), minerals (Na, K, Mg, Fe and Zn), antioxidant compounds (total phenol, α-tocopherol and
vitamin-E). According to most of the researches the values of the physicochemical characteristics of watermelon
seed oil are within the recommended limits and therefore it could be a good source of cooking and frying oil.
After going through its comprehensive toxicological investigation, nutritional and physiological benefit, as
revealed from different animal studies, it may be recommended that watermelon seed oil must be commercially
exploited to be used in different nutraceuticals and functional food commodities and also a potential antidote for
fighting against various ailments. Still there is an ample scope of research to expose hitherto unknown bioactive
phytoconstituents responsible for the positive health benefits of the seed oil.

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Reetapa Biswas A comprehensive review on watermelon seed oil – an underutilized product.”

IOSR Journal of Pharmacy (IOSRPHR), vol. 7, no. 11, 2017, pp. 01-07.