Pumpkin seeds as nutraceutical and functional food ingredient for future:A review

Pumpkin belongs to the family of Cucurbitaceae,which comprises several species that has economical as well as agronomical importance.All parts of pumpkin are edible and laden with beneficial neutraceutical compounds.Pumpkin seeds are valuable source protein which can help in eradicating protein malnutrition and lipids(rich in PUFAs)contains essential as well as non essential fatty acids which prevents from various ailments like cancer and other cardiovascular diseases.Since,seeds of pumpkin are abundant in macro(magnesium,phosphorous,potassium,sodium and calcium)and micro minerals(iron,copper,manganese,zinc and selenium),they can be used as an incredible dietary supplement which in turn helps in curbing various deficiency disorders.This review enlightens the characteristics of pumpkin seeds,process of valorization of pumpkin seeds and the effect of processing on their nutritional composition which have been studied currently with the aim to use this wonder seeds for human wellbeing.Pumpkin seeds possess many bioactive compounds like polyphenols,flavonoids,phytosterols and squalene which makes it a lucrative raw material for pharmacological and food industries.Pumpkin seeds work as anti-depressant and helps majorly in the treatment of benign prostate hyperplasia(BHP).Daily consumption of pumpkin seeds can reduce the chances of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.Pumpkin seeds are rich in tocopherols and can be used for oil extraction for edible purposes and utilized in other food formulations for future use.

Extraction,quantification and characterization of oil from pumpkin seeds

A quantification and characterization study of oil from pumpkin seeds was carried out on three pumpkin varieties,namely,Japanese type of the Curcubita maxima species,Green Kabocha and butternut squash of the Cucurbita moschanta species.Oil extraction was done using the Soxhlet method with petroleum ether as the solvent.The physicochemical properties of acid value,iodine value,specific gravity and refractive index were determined.The results were analyzed statistically using one way ANOVA at a 5% level of significance.The mean values of oil content,acid value,iodine value,specific gravity and refractive index for Japanese type pumpkin were found to be 35.67%,2.24 mg KOH/g,26.45 mg I2/100 g,0.9126 and 1.47,respectively.For Green Kabocha,the mean values of the above five properties were 30.12%,3.35 mg KOH/g,25.3 mg I2/100 g,0.9126 and 1.469,respectively.For the Butternut squash type the mean values of the above five properties were 34.76%,3.74 mg KOH/g,26.61 mg I2,0.9131 and 1.471,respectively.It can be noted that from the low acid values of the pumpkin oil,pumpkin oil can be identified as edible.Also the low iodine value indicated that the pumpkin oil was non-drying.In addition,the low iodine value also suggested that the oil contains few unsaturated bonds and therefore has low susceptibility to oxidative rancidity.With a comparison of extraction rates from other oil sources in Uganda such as cotton(15%-20%),soybeans(19%-21%),the obtained results in this study suggested that pumpkin seeds are a viable source of vegetable oils that can be utilized for commercial vegetable oil extraction in Uganda.

Pumpkin seed ethanolic extract protects against escitalopram-induced reproductive toxicity in male mice

Objective:To investigate the protective role of pumpkin seed ethanolic extract against escitalopram-induced reproductive toxicity in male mice.Methods:Swiss albino male mice were randomly divided into five groups with six mice in each group.Group Ⅰreceived normal water orally,Group Ⅱ,Ⅲ,Ⅳand Ⅴreceived escitalopram oxalate(10 mg/kg),pumpkin seed extract(300 mg/kg)plus escitalopram oxalate(10 mg/kg),escitalopram oxalate(20 mg/kg),and pumpkin seed extract(300 mg/kg)plus escitalopram oxalate(20 mg/kg),respectively.All test doses were continuously administered orally once daily per animal body weight for 30 days and 60 days.Body weight and sexual organ weight were evaluated on day 31 and 61.Effects of pumpkin seed extract on sperm parameters,biochemical parameters and histology of testis were also investigated.Results:Escitalopram 10 or 20 mg/kg caused reproductive toxicity in male mice after 30 and 60 days of treatment.However,simultaneous administration of escitalopram oxalate(10 or 20 mg/kg)with pumpkin seed extract(300 mg/kg)attenuated escitalopram-induced testicular toxicity.Significant increase in the body weight and relative organ weight was observed.Sperm count,sperm motility and viability significantly increased(P<0.05).The histopathological alterations caused by escitalopram was also ameliorated.Conclusions:Ethanolic extract of pumpkin seeds(300 mg/kg body weight)protects again reproductive toxicity induced by escitalopram.Therefore,dietary intake of pumpkin seed extract might be useful for male patients who expose to antidepressant drug due to depression.

Effect of the Extracts of Pumpkin Seeds on the Urodynamics of Rabbits：An Experimental Study

Pumpkin seeds were prepared into oil n-butyle alcohol and ether extracts.The effects of the three extracts on the urodynamics of rabbits were observed.It was concluded that the oil preparation could remarkably reduce the bladder pressure ,increase the bladder compliance, reduce the urethral pressure. Other two kinds of preparations had no effect in this experimental. The mechanisms of the effect of oil preparation on the urodynamics and the prospect of clinical use was discussed.

Fatty Acid Accumulation in Seeds of Three Seed Pumpkin Cultivars

In the literature there are many reports on the composition and properties of pumpkin seed oil; however, few is known about the effect of different stages of seed development on various fatty acid profiles in developing seeds. The objective of this study was to provide the changes of various fatty acid accumulations in seed oil obtained from the seeds of three pumpkin varieties belonging to the species Cucurbita maxima and Cucurbita pepo. Unsaturated acids(oleic and linoleic) were dominant in various fatty acids, which constituted 38.9%-49.1% and 29.4%-42.7% of the total fatty acids at seed maturity for three pumpkin varieties, respectively, while other fatty acid concentrations except for palmitic acid all did not reach 10%. Different varieties exhibited greater effect on various fatty acid contents and the total fatty acid contents in the seeds of pumpkin rather than the species. On the whole, palmitic acid profiles of the seed oil in three varieties all followed the fluctuant decrease during all the stages of seed development, but palmitoleic acid and the total fatty acid profiles of the seed oil in three varieties were just the opposite. Stearic, oleic and linoleic acid profiles of the seed oil in three varieties all experienced the third pattern that fluctuated during all the stages of seed development, but no significant differences in these three fatty acid concentrations were found from the beginning to the end. Linolenic acid concentrations of three varieties were on the decline and ultimately close to zero. Myristic and arachidic acid profiles of the seed oil followed different trends in three varieties. Among them, myristic and arachidic acid profiles of the seed oil of Yinhui-1 fluctuated downward all the time until seed maturity, but those of 0238-1 and Jinhui-2 completely changed oppositely.

Analysis of the Emissions and Performance of a Diesel Engine Using Pumpkin Seed Oil Methyl Ester with Different Injection Pressures

Biodiesel fuel is a potential alternative energy source for diesel engines due to its physiochemical characteristics relatively similar to those of traditional diesel fuel.In this study,the performance,emission,and combustion features of a mono cylinder DI diesel engine are assessed using 20%Pumpkin seed methyl ester(PSOME20)and considering varying injection pressures(200,220,240,and 260 bar).The considered Pumpkin seed oil is converted into pumpkin biodiesel by transesterification and then used as fuel.The findings demonstrate that the Brake Thermal Efficiency(BTE)of PSOME20 can be raised by 1.68%,and the carbon monoxide(CO),hydrocarbon(HC),and smoke emanations can be lowered,while oxides of nitrogen(NOx)emissions are increased at an injection pressure(IP)of 240 bar compared to the standard IP of 200 bar.The cylinder pressure and the Heat Release Rate(HRR)become higher at 240 bar,whereas the ignition delay is shortened with respect to PSOME20 at a normal IP of 200 bar.

Uromedic^(■) Pumpkin Seed Derived Δ7-Sterols, Extract and Oil Inhibit 5α-Reductases and Bind to Androgen Receptor in Vitro

Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is implicated in the development of benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). We investigated if Uromedic? pumpkin (variety of Cucurbita pepo L. convar. citrullinina GREB. var. styriaca GREB) seed soft extract (active ingredients of GRANUFINK? Prosta forte 500 mg), seed oil and isolated Δ7-sterols could inhibit the conversion of [1,2,6,7-3H(N)]-testosterone to DHT by 5α-reductases. Also, we tested competition with [3H]-DHT for binding to the androgen receptor (AR). Pumpkin seed oil and pumpkin seed soft extract were identified as moderately active inhibitors of 5α-R1 and 5α-R2, with almost similar inhibitory capacities (IC50 5 mg/ml for 5α-R1 and about IC50 = 6 mg/ml for 5α-R2). The isolated Δ7-sterols were more active inhibitors (IC50 = 0.3 mg/ml for 5α-R1, IC50 = 1.0 mg/ml for 5α-R2). All three test compounds bound to the AR dose-dependently, with strong binding by Δ7-sterols (IC50 = 0.2 mg/ml) and weaker binding by pumpkin seed oil (IC50 = 0.4 mg/ml) and pumpkin seed soft extract (IC50 = 1.1 mg/ml). We propose that inhibition of 5α-reductases and competitive binding to the AR are mechanisms of action, by which the Uromedic? pumpkin seed derived test compounds, most specifically Δ7-sterols, counteract DHT and thereby exert clinically positive effects on the prostate, as well as bladder-strengthening effects.