SINDH UNIVERSITY RESEARCH JOURNAL (SCIENCE SERIES) Nutritional Profile and Medicinal Properties of Cucumis melo var Agrestis: A Non- Conventional Vegetable M. N. MEMON, A. B. GHANGHRO*, A. R. MEMON**, G. USMAN, A. M. SHAH, A. ABRO*** Department of Community Medicine, LUMHS, Jamshoro Received 10 rd March 2017 and Revised 26 th September 2017 1. INTRODUCTION In rural population to sustaining the healthy life the non-conventional vegetables performing important role as the non-traditional food having rich substance of variety of macro and micro nutrients availability and many medicinal qualities. Around the world bioactive compounds present in plants kingdom enhances the pharmaceutical property along nutritional substances (Lim, 2012). Traditional medicinal plants have been used to treat many types of diseases since decades around the whole world. In recent times the medicinal plants are attaining focus in research community due to their significancein protection from variety of health hazardous ailments. Phytochemicals are secondary metabolites present in the medicinal plants which have curative medical properties and is using from ancient times as a therapeutic drugs or as herbal medicine. Besides this there is range of several scientifically identified phytochemicals that are non-nutritive in property but having diseases protective assets available in plants (Lanjawani et al., 2015). The Cucumis melo var Agrestis (wild melon in English) or kachari (in Hindi), Chibbar/Mitero (in Sindhi), small gourd, wild musk melon, miniature melon) from Conomon group and Cucurbitaceous family, consumed as vegetable at premature stage although use as fruit when whereas as a fruit in mature phase in most of the rural areas of Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, Iran, Malaya and in China, economically cheaper consecutively used in managements of many diseases (Folador et al., 2007). The fruits of this plant having importance in treating of burns and abrasions while Seeds are known as antitussive, antioxidant, digestive, febrifuge and vermifugtive, the oil extracted from seed was reported for anti-fungal action (Kaur et al., 2011) Keeping in the view an effort has been taken to explore the nutritional profile and medicinal properties evaluation of Cucumis melo var Agrestis vegetable from District Tharparkar. The present research study is therefore being intended to investigate the excellence of plant in their nutraceutical quality. 2. MATERIALS AND METHODS 2.1 Collection, identifications and Sample preparation of plants: Cucumis melo var Agrestiswas collected from District Tharparkar, Sindh Pakistan and brought in laboratory of Institute of Biochemistry, University of Sindh, Jamshoro. The samples were wrapped in paper bags to avoid moisture and temperature retention. Before starting laboratory analysis plants samples were initially conformed by efficient botanist from Institute of Plants Science, University of Sindh, Jamshoro. After ++ Corresponding AuthorEmail: allah.bux@usindh.edu.pk *Institute of Biochemistry, University of Sindh, Jamshoro. **Department of Biochemistry, LUMHS, Jamshoro. **Sir C.J Institute of Psychiatry, Hyderabad Abstract: The research study was design to determine the nutritional profile and medicinal properties of non-conventional vegetable Cucumis melo var Agrestis of district Tharparkar, for sake to take a little step for overcoming the situation of malnutrition and to alleviate the nutritional and health status of the community as well. Cucumis melo var Agrestis fruits sample were collected from the vicinity of Mithi, district Tharparkar, Sindh, Pakistan. Biochemical and phytochemical screening via different standard methods was performed to assess the nutritional value of the plant. The outcomes of experimental work were estimate ash content with 3.8%, moisture 80.9%, carbohydrate content 31.2%, moreover protein content of Cucumis melo var Agrestis was detected 18.9% in fruit part. However, the presence of Phenolic compounds alike total alkaloids and total Tannis was also observed, beside this the heavy metals was found available and analysis shows presence of Cu, Fe, Zn, Co with 138, 141, 17.6 and 0.03 of ppm concentration were found respectively, although very minute concentration of Mn, Pb and Cd perceived below the limit of detection. Hence it was concluded from present study that Cucumis melo var Agrestis (Fruit) was found nutritious that can be used as food to overwhelm the situation of malnutrition. Keywords: Cucumis melo var Agrestis, Phytochemical, Fruits, Nutritional, Medicinal. http://doi.org/10.26692/sujo/2018.01.0019 Sindh Univ. Res. Jour. (Sci. Ser.) Vol.50 (001) 115-118 (2018)