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Medicinal and biological potential of pumpkin: An updated review
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The use of herbal remedies individually or in combination with standard medicines has been used in various medical treatises for the cure of different diseases. Pumpkin is one of the well-known edible plants and has substantial medicinal properties due to the presence of unique natural edible substances. It contains several phyto-constituents belonging to the categories of alkaloids, flavonoids, and palmitic, oleic and linoleic acids. Various important medicinal properties including anti-diabetic, antioxidant, anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory and others have been well documented. The purpose of the present article is to discuss various medicinal and biological potentials of pumpkin that can impart further research developments with this plant for human health benefits.
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... The native species of North America is Cucurbita pepo L. that has been harvested there for many centuries. In accordance with the quality of the extracted oil, pumpkin seeds have been characterised as more resilient and less apt to perish [8]. Researchers have focused their attention on this crop for the treatment of disease because of the presence of numerous edible and medicinal components [9]. ...
... Protein, vitamin E, carotenoids, saponin, phytosterol, provitamins, unsaturated fatty acids, flavonoids, phenolic substances, and their derivatives all are pervasive in pumpkin seeds [12]. Even so, the polyunsaturated fatty acids, tocopherol, potassium, phosphorus, zinc, manganese, copper, calcium, iron, sodium, and magnesium present in pumpkin seeds make them a valuable source of nutrients [8]. Minerals and bioactive substances simultaneously perform a variety of potential roles, such as reducing oxidative stress, non-communicable illnesses, hyperglycemia, diabetes, prostatic problems, urine bladder, and other conditions that affect the urinary system and overall health. ...
... It has also been revealed in various studies that phytosterols can lower the risk of many types of cancers. Due to the presence of phytosterols, pumpkin seeds are a suitable alternative nutraceutical for treating a variety of noncommunicable diseases in individuals [8]. ...
Pumpkin, belongs to the family Cucurbitaceae and genus Cucurbita, is gaining appeal across the world for a number of reasons. Pumpkin seeds have always been discarded as waste even with containing essential pharmaceutical micro and macro constituents such as proteins, antioxidative phenolic compounds, tocopherols, triterpenes, saponins, phytosterols, lignans, and carotenoids as well as these compounds D-chiro-inositol, trigonelline, and nicotinic acid. Pumpkin seeds are also rich in fibre, polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals including zinc, iron, magnesium, calcium, manganese, and copper that may be used in the food industry. Pumpkin seeds are now generally used in traditional medicine in treatment of many diseases, including hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis, hyperglycemia, inflammation, dyslipidemia, bacteria, fungal infections, and tumours. As a result, pumpkin seeds are now often utilised as a herbal treatment or health-improving agent for both people and animals, and food scientists are providing the pumpkin-infused products to the food and health industries. Hence, food manufacturers have worked to broaden the range of appetiser, baking, and snack uses for pumpkin seeds. This review article provides insights into the pharmacological activities of pumpkin seeds and the possible processes which, might reduce the chance of a wide range of problems.
... Among these metals, lead and cadmium are the metals with the most concern due to their toxicity potential for animals and plants even for humans. The effect of seed aging on the germination and growth of Cucurbita pepo L. seedlings has been evaluated in an experiment with a completely random design where seeds were exposed to deterioration at 45°C and 95% humidity for 2, 4, 6,8,10,12,14,16,18, and 20 days. The measured characteristics included germination percentage and speed, germination uniformity, and days to reach 10 and 50% of germination. ...
... C. pepo L. is one of the valuable medicinal plants in the pharmaceutical industry and its oil is used in medicine. The most important components of the oil of this plant are linoleic and oleic fatty acids, sterols, micronutrients, vitamins, and carotenoids [18]. ...
Cucurbita pepo L. is one of the most important crops that belong to the Cucurbitaceae family, an herbaceous, perennial, and polymorphic vegetable that grows also in tropical conditions. Pumpkin fruit contains large amounts of vitamins, minerals, and biologically active substances. The pumpkin seed oil contains high amounts of unsaturated fatty acids and is effective in treating different health conditions. Nevertheless, on the other hand, there have been reports that pumpkin tends to collect small amounts of nitrate or heavy metals. Therefore, our study aimed to investigate the effect of organic matter (humic acid) on the germination and activity of antioxidant enzymes, glycosylate cycle enzymes, and utilization of lipid and protein reserves of pumpkin seeds under cadmium stress conditions.
... Indian baby pumpkin (Praecitrullus fistulosus) locally called tinda is a herbaceous plant belonging to the family Cucurbitaceae (Tindall 1983;Tyagi 2012). Fruit and seeds of Indian baby pumpkin are used as food, fodder and used for medication for diabetes (Mukesh 2010). Its leaves are also used for maintaining blood pressure (Ciali 2006). ...
Increasing insufficiency of freshwater resources is driving many countries in arid and semi-arid regions to use low-quality water for agriculture and related activities. This wastewater may have some useful as well adverse effects on various parameters. In this regard, we design an experimental setup to investigate the impact of irrigation with industrial wastewater on the Praecitrullus fistulosus (Indian baby pumpkin) plant. For this purpose, Praecitrullus fistulous was cultivated in soil irrigated with different concentrations (i.e. 25, 50, 75, 100%) of industrial wastewater, while control contain 0% of wastewater. Before the treatment, physicochemical parameters (pH, TDS, EC, etc.) of industrial wastewater were analysed. It was observed that lower concentration/s of wastewater positively affects various morphological (no. of leaves, fruits etc.) and biochemical (Total protein, Flavonoids, Sugar/s content etc.) attributes in treated plants, whereas elevated concentration may hurt these parameters.
... Although Cucurbita pepo has been reported to have anti-hypercholesterolemic, antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory, anti-parasitic, anti-tumor, anti-oxidant, anti-diabetic, anticarcinogenic, anti-bacterial, intestinal and antiinflammatory activities [7][8][9], as well as immense nutraceutical benefits [10], studies on its effect on the female reproductive hormones remains scarce. This study was therefore aimed to evaluate the effect of aqueous ethanol extract of Cucurbita pepo seed on reproductive hormones of female wistar rats. ...
This study aimed to investigate the effect of aqueous ethanol extract of Cucurbita pepo seed (AEECPS) on the reproductive hormones of female rats. A total of 16 healthy non-pregnant female wistar rats divided into 4 groups of 4 rats each, for a 12-day treatment by oral gavage as follows: A (Control) = 0.5 ml 20% tween 80 (Vehicle); B, C & D = 142.86, 285.71, and 428.57mg/kg AEECPS respectively. Vaginal cytology examination was done daily to determine the oestrous cycle phases. At the end of the treatment, blood sample was collected according to the four phases of the oestrous cycle for hormonal assay-FSH, LH, Oestrogen and Progesterone. C.pepo seed extract caused a significant (P<0.05) increase in only the oestrogen level at the proestrus, oestrus, metestrus and diestrus phases, and also produced a significant (P <0.05) decrease in progesterone at the oestrus stage, though only at the dose of 285.71mg/kg relative to the control. There was a 171 significant (P <0.05) decrease in the diestrus phase in group B (142.86mg/kg AEECPS) treated rats when compared with the control. Cucurbita pepo seed may have estrogenic properties, given the significant increase in oestrogen concentration throughout the phases of the oestrous cycle. This finding may be considered for clinical trial in post-menopausal females as hormone replacement therapy due to its oestrogenic activity.
... Yüzyıldan bu yana idrar yolu problemleri için tedavide kullanılmıştır. Kabak para-aminobenzoik asit, karotenoidler ve γ-aminobütirik asit, steroller, proteinler, peptidler ve polisakkaritler gibi çeşitli biyolojik aktif bileşenler içerir [12]. Ayrıca bir grup esansiyel yağ asidi (linoleik asit, palmitik asit, stearik asit, oleik asit) ve esansiyel olmayan amino asitler, cucurbitin, phytosteroler, sitosterol ve stigmasterol içerir. ...
ZET Benign prostat hiperplazisi (BPH), özellikle 50 yaşından sonra erkeklerde görülen en yaygın üriner hastalıklardan biridir. Bu multifaktöriyel hastalığın prevalansı yaşla birlikte artış göstermektedir. Yaşlanmayla birlikte testosteronun plazma seviyesi ve testosteron/östrojen oranı düşer, bu da prostat hücrelerinin hiperplazisini kolaylaştırabilecek östrojen aktivitesinin artmasına neden olur. Başka bir teori, dihidrotestosteron (DHT) ve testosteronu DHT'ye dönüştüren 5α-redüktaz enziminin aktivitesine odaklanır. Yaşlı erkeklerde bu enzimin aktivitesi yükselerek testosteron/DHT oranının düşmesine neden olur. DHT, prostat hücresi büyümesini destekleyerek hiperplaziye neden olabilir. Bazı bitkiler ve bunların bileşikleri, bu enzimi modüle ederek etkiler ortaya koyarlar ve yukarıda gösterilen hedeflere sahiptirler. Bu derleme, kabak çekirdeği, söğüt otu, domates, deniz çamı kabuğu, Pygeum africanum kabuğu, çavdar poleni, testere palmetto meyvesi ve ısırgan kökü gibi BPH tedavisinde en yaygın kullanılan bitkisel ilaçlara odaklanarak en son klinik çalışmaları ve sonuçlarını vurgulamaktadır. Anahtar Kelimeler: Benign prostat hiperplazisi, Bitkisel ilaçlar. Tedavi HERBAL MEDICINES USED TO TREATMENT OF PROSTATIC HYPERTROPHY ABSTRACT Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the most common urinary disorders in men, especially after the age of 50. The prevalence of this multifactorial disease increases with age. With aging, the plasma level of testosterone and the testosterone/oestrogen ratio decrease, resulting in increased oestrogen activity that may facilitate hyperplasia of prostate cells. Another theory focuses on the activity of the enzyme 5α-reductase, which converts dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and testosterone to DHT. In older men, the activity of this enzyme increases, causing a decrease in the testosterone/DHT ratio. DHT can promote prostate cell growth, causing hyperplasia. Some plants and their compounds exert effects by modulating this enzyme and have the goals shown above. This review highlights the latest clinical studies and results, focusing on the most commonly used herbal remedies for the treatment of BPH, such as pumpkin seeds, willow grass, tomatoes, maritime pine bark, Pygeum africanum bark, rye pollen, saw palmetto fruit, and nettle root.
Genetic engineering is commonly used to improve the agronomic traits of crops. However, genetic transformation in pumpkin remains a challenge. Conducting transformation trials, we accidentally created transgenic L1 periclinal chimeras in pumpkins.
Using our modified Agrobacterium ‐mediated transformation, we generated transgenic L1 periclinal chimeras which have high value in research on development of the meristem.
Fluorescence observations of transformed L1 cells enabled us to reveal cell fates. These L1 cells can develop into stomata, epidermal hairs, seed coat, and epidermis of the root, stem, leaf, flower, and fruit. These periclinal chimeras can be propagated vegetatively with minimal risk of transgene flow.
This study offers new perspectives on development of the meristem and a promising technique for creating transgenic periclinal chimeras in plants.
For thousands of years, medicinal plants have played a pivotal role in maintaining human health and improving the quality of human life. This study was designed to analyze the analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial potentials of a hydro-methanolic extract of Cucurbita moschata flowers, along with qualitative and quantitative phytochemical screening. The anti-inflammatory effect was tested using the in vitro membrane stabilizing method for human red blood cells (HRBC), the analgesic effect was tested using the in vivo acetic acid-induced writing method, and the antibacterial effect was tested using the disc diffusion method. In silico ADME/T and molecular docking studies were performed to assess the potential of the stated phytochemicals against Cyclooxygenase-II enzyme. Phytochemical screening confirmed the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, glycosides, tannins, and carbohydrates. The flower extract demonstrated the maximum protection of human red blood cells at 1000 µg/mL, with a 65.73% reduction in hemolysis in a hypotonic solution. The extract also showed significant (p < 0.05) and dose-dependent analgesic effects at oral doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg on the tested animals. Furthermore, the flower extract exhibited potent antibacterial activity due to the disc diffusion method, which was compared with standard ciprofloxacin. In silico testing revealed that 42 phytochemicals exhibited notable pharmacokinetic properties and passed drug likeness screening tests. Among the six best-selected compounds, 3,4-dihydro-2H-pyran-2-yl)methanamine showed the highest binding affinity (−10.1) with significant non-bonding interactions with the target enzyme. In conclusion, the hydro-methanolic extract of Cucurbita moschata was found to be rich in various phytochemicals that may be associated with therapeutic potential, and this study supports the traditional use of Cucurbita moschata flowers in the management of inflammation and painful conditions.
This study aimed to investigate the use of selected pumpkin varieties as carriers of potassium iodide (KI) and potassium iodate (KIO3) at different concentrations (2.3, 0.23, and 0.023 mg/100 g). It was hypothesized that the concentrations and form of iodine fortification in pumpkins affect the antioxidant activity of pumpkins. The results showed a high recovery of the introduced iodine in all pumpkin varieties after drying, as well as high iodine stability during storage, especially for KIO3. However, statistical analysis confirmed a relationship between the forms and concentration of iodine and the ABTS cation radical and the DPPH cation radical test results. In the systems with iodine concentration at 0.023 and 0.23 mg/100 g, the antioxidant activity did not change. However, for all pumpkin varieties fortified with a KIO3 concentration at 3.9 mg/100 g (2.3 mg/100 g of iodine), a statistically significant decrease in free-radical scavenging was confirmed. Therefore, for maximum effectiveness in pumpkin’s free-radical scavenging indices, it is suggested to introduce iodine in the form of KI and KIO3, but in controlled concentrations. However, KIO3 should be added at a maximum amount of 0.39 mg/100 g.
Incorporation of pumpkin seed meal, pumpkin protein concentrate and isolate and canola protein concentrate and isolate in the production of breads was evaluated. Pumpkin seed meal and protein concentrate and canola protein concentrate and isolate can be added to wheat flour up to 18% protein concentration, while pumpkin protein isolate can be added to wheat flour up to 22% protein concentration without a detrimental effect on dough or loaf quality. Further incorporation larger than 18 and 22% protein concentration yielded dense, compact. unacceptable breads. The addition of pumpkin and canola proteins increased the protein, lysine and mineral (Ca. P, Cu, Fe and Mg) contents of the breads by 11-38%, 90-200% and 70-135%, respectively. Lysine and tyrosine were the first limiting amino acids for control breads and bread enriched with canola protein concentrate, respectively. Valine was the first limiting amino acid in preads enriched with canola protein isolate, pumpkin seed meal, pumpkin protein concentrate and isolate. The chemical scores and essential amino acid indices of breads enriched with pumpkin and canola proteins were increased by 55-80% and 14-27%, respectively, compared to chemical scores and essential amino acid indices of control breads.
To find specific risk factors of gastric cancer (GC) independent of GC family history (GCFH), 2 studies were conducted using the database of the Hospital‐based Epidemiological Research Program at Aichi Cancer Center: (i) a comparison of lifestyles between non‐cancer cases with positive and negative GCFH status and (ii) a case‐reference investigation of subjects with and without GCFH, treated separately. The first showed no significant variation of GCFH status with regard to smoking, drinking and most food habits. Multivariate analyses in the case‐referent studies revealed odds ratios (ORs) for GC associated with habitual smoking of 2.78 (95% CI 1.22–6.28) for those with and 2.74 (95% CI 1.76–4.26) for those without GCFH. In individuals with GCFH, an independently lowered OR (0.52, 95% CI 0.27–0.99) was evident for frequent consumption of raw vegetables, whereas the opposite was noted for pickled vegetables (2.39, 95% CI 1.28–4.45). No statistically significant interaction was found between GCFH and selected lifestyle items. In conclusion, our results suggest a limited influence of GCFH on risk factors for GC. Int. J. Cancer 86:421–424, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
We investigated the effect of pumpkin-seed supplementation on oxalcrystalluria and urinary composition in 20 boys age 2-7 yr from a hyperendemic area of Ubol province in Thailand. The experiment had four periods: control (before treatment), oxalate supplementation 5mg · kg−1 body wt · day−1, pumpkin-seed or orthophosphate supplementation 60 mg · kg body wt−1 · day−1, and posttreatment. Causal morning and 24-h urines were collected analyzed for crystalluria, pH, calcium, phosphorous, oxalate, creatinine, sodium, potassium, citrate glycosaminoglycans, and pyrophosphate. The results demonstrated that the longer the supplementation period of pumpkin seeds, the better were the results. Pumpkin seeds lowered calcium-oxalate crystal occurrence and calcium level but increased phosphorus, pyrophosphate, glycosaminoglycans, and potassium values in urine as compared with orthophosphate supplementation. Pumpkin seeds provide high phosphorus levels and can be used as a potential agent in lowering the risk of bladder-stone disease.
A WHO Meeting on the Promotion and Development of Traditional Medicine was held in Geneva from 28 November to 2 December 1977. The aim of the Meeting was to assemble expert representatives of the major systems of traditional medicine to work together and suggest a plan of action to promote and develop the various aspects of traditional medicine. The specific objectives were to make practical suggestions on policy guidelines for the provision of materials and techniques, collaboration among different systems of health care, health education of the public, manpower development, organization of health services, the future development of traditional medicine and its utilization, particularly in the national health services, and relevant research. A major problem for special consideration was the effective collaboration of different practitioners and their integration into an overall national health care delivery system. The Meeting proceeded to discuss its theme under the following headings: Traditional medicine in health care - Reasons for the promotion of traditional medicine - Utilization of traditional medicine in national health care systems - Integration of traditional medicine and modern medicine - Manpower development for traditional medicine - Research promotion and development in traditional medicine - Recommendations.
Background: Plumbum (Pb) is a heavy metal widely existed, which would affect the antioxidative enzymic system of the body, and to decrease the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and thereby to damage liver, kidney and brain, etc. Pumpkin has wide applicable merit in preventing diabetes, against hyperlipemia, preventing cancer and eliminating heavy metal poising, etc. Objective: To investigate the changes of antioxidative enzymic system induced by Pb in mouse as well as the effect of Pumpkin Distillable Subject (PKD) on antioxidation enzymic system. Design: A randomized controlled study. Setting, participants and interventions: Our study was conducted in animal laboratory of the Faculty of Public Health of Harbin Medical University. 60 purebred male healthy Kunming mice were obtained from the Experimental Animal Center of China Pharmaceutical Biological Product Analysis Institute, which were allocated into normal control group (control group), Pb management group (Pb group) and combined management group (PKD group). Mice in control group drank normal water, mice in Pumpkin group drank water that polluted by Pb to establish Plumbism model and then provided with PKD, and mice in Pb group only drank Pb-polluted water without PKD management. All animals were executed after 4 weeks for drawing bloods and taking liver, which would be prepared into homogenate. The activities of SOD, GSH-Px as well as the content of MDA in serum and hepatic homogenate were assayed. Main outcome measures: The activities of SOD, GSH-Px as well as the content of MDA in serum and hepatic homogenate in mice of each group were assayed. Results: The serous and hepatic activities of SOD, GSH-Px in mice of PKD group were significantly higher than that of Pb group (q = 7.83, 6.01, P < 0.01), but the concentrations of MDA were significantly lower that that of Pb group (q = 6.75, 6.51, P < 0.01). The serous and hepatic activities of SOD and GSH-Px in mice of Pb group[(3 746.42 ± 669.30) μkat/L, (702.64 ± 139.36) nkat/g]were significantly lower than that[(6 242.92 ± 940.02) μkat/L, (1 098.05 ± 196.37) nkat/g] of control group (q = 7.90, 5.59, P < 0.01). Conclusion: Plumbism could induce peroxidative injury in mouse. PKD could reduce the lipid peroxidation induced by Pb and increase antioxidative ability in mice.