Abstract
The three maturity stages found in the pericarp and seeds of bitter melon ( Momordica charantia) were investigated for their variations in proximate composition, amino acid profiles, and mineral contents. Moisture, starch, and total dietary fibre contents of pericarp, from all maturity stages (immature, mature and ripe), were significantly higher ( P value <0.05) than those of ripe and mature seeds, while lipid and protein contents of seeds were statistically higher ( P value <0.05) than those of pericarp. Maturity did not change the lipid content of the pericarp, while maturity progression decreased the protein content of bitter melon pericarp. A significant increase in the protein (30.4%) and lipid (37.6%) contents was observed in bitter melon seeds as the maturity progressed. Ripe seeds that have more than 30% protein could be a good protein source for functional ingredients in a food system. Bitter melon can be considered a good source of these nutrients.
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