Nutritional physico-chemical composition of pumpkin pulp for value addition: Case of selected cultivars grown in Uganda

摘要: Pumpkin is one of the underutilized fruit-vegetables in Uganda although it crops believed to have carotenoids with pro-vitamin A activity that are not common many other crops. While being bred or fortified increase their nutritional benefits β-carotene and micro nutrients required for healthy growth care immunosuppressed people, value pumpkins this regard remains under researched. This study sought determine physico-chemical parameters selected pumpkin cultivars grown Uganda. The seeds 14 from four agro-ecological zones were similar conditions. Their mature pulp was then analyzed proximate, mineral carotenoid composition including glucose, starch, crude fibre, fat, ash, protein, moisture, iron, zinc, calcium, potassium, lutein, α-carotene, trans-β-carotene, cis-β-carotene, total content using standard procedures. potassium varied significantly across all accessions (PE‚0.05) while iron zinc did vary (PEƒ0.05) respectively. results show a good source dietary activity. Therefore, can be utilized food processing industry as supplement several addition avenues such wine flour production.   Key words: Accession, carotenoid, cultivar, pumpkin, addition.