Phytochemical and proximate composition of cucumber (Cucumis sativus) fruit from Nsukka, Nigeria

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) is very common, cultivated throughout the world and often eaten as a raw vegetable without cooking. In this study, the phytochemical and proximate compositions of cucumber were investigated. Quantitative phytochemical analysis of the homogenate of C. sativus fruit showed that reducing sugars (574.36 ± 3.88 mg/g) was highest amount when compared to other phytochemicals, alkaloids (2.22 ± 0.96 mg/g) and flavonoids (2.14 ± 0.56 mg/g) were moderately present, while cyanogenic glycoside (0.21 ± 0.13 mg/g) was the lowest in quantity. Proximate analysis showed that C. sativus fruit contained the following - fibre (1.02 ± 0.01%), moisture (94.2 ± 0.08%), protein (3.01 ± 0.07%), lipid (0.55 ± 0.13%), carbohydrate (0.28 ± 0.09%) and ash (0.94 ± 0.24%) contents.   Key words: Phytochemicals, Cucumis sativus, proximate constituents.