production for edible seeds [1]. Pumpkin seeds are consumed as a snack by salting and roasting. They are also used in product of confectionery and bakery [2]. The main components of pumpkin seeds are protein (mostly albumins and globulins) and oil [3]. In addition, pumpkin seeds contain minerals (especially potassium, phosphorus and magnesium), phytosterols, carotenoids and tocopherols which make pumpkin seed valuable and prevent chronic diseases [4]. Pumpkin seeds contain 400-540 g/kg oil which commonly used as salad oil [5]. However, the use as a cooking oil remains limited due to its color, strong aroma and foaming [6]. The main fatty acids of pumpkin seeds, which comprise 98 % of the total fatty acids, are oleic, linoleic, palmitic and stearic acids. Fatty acid composition of pumpkin seed oil differs according to variety and climatic conditions [7]. Recently, pumpkin seed and seed oil drew attention because of promoting health and preventing diseases, including such properties as antidiabetic, antihypertensive, antitumor, immunomodulation, antibacterial, antihypercholesterolemia, intestinal antiparasitia, anti-inflammation, and antalgic [8].Nowadays, there is less information in the literature about hull-less pumpkin seeds. The purpose of this study was to determine the total oil, total phenol content, antioxidant activity and mineral content of hull-less pumpkin seeds which belong to different genotypes and also to analyze the fatty acid composition of the seed oils extracted from these genotypes.
AbstractThe main objective of this study was to determine total oil, total phenol, antioxidant activity and mineral contents of hull-less pumpkin seeds and also fatty acid composition of seed oils. The results indicated that total oil, total phenol content and antioxidant activity values were found between 33.04 and 46.97 %, 56.94 and 87.15 mg GAE/100 g and 0.19 and 11.75 %, respectively (p < 0.05). Linoleic, oleic, palmitic and stearic acids were the most prominent fatty acids in all genotypes. The most abundant mineral in the studied seeds, which belong to different genotypes, was potassium (2704.75-1033.63 ppm) followed by phosphorus (3569.690-9108.835 ppm) and magnesium (1275.15-3938.16 ppm) (p < 0.05). Particularly genotype-1 was the richest seed in essential fatty acids and minerals.
