A Review: The Emerging Nutraceutical Potential of Pumpkin Seeds

Abstract

The pumpkin belongs to the family of Cucurbitaceae, is a well-known edible plant that has been frequently used as functional food or herbal medicine. Pumpkins contain rich unsaturated fatty acids, phytoestrogens and vitamins E in their seeds that have potential pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and cosmeceutical properties. Information regarding their nutritional components and therapeutic properties of pumpkin seeds has expanded dynamically in the recent years and this review focus on the three main components of pumpkin seeds that described before. Several types of unsaturated fatty acids are the dominant component in pumpkin seeds which can play a role in the disease prevention and promote health. Pumpkin seeds also contain the important phytoestrogen compounds, i.e., secoisolariciresinol and lariciresinol that have estrogenic-like effect such as preventing hyperlipidemia and osteoporosis for menopausal women. Phytoestrogens in pumpkin seeds also could be related to a reduced hormone-dependent tumor. Pumpkin seeds are rich in vitamin E contents as an emerging free radical scavenger, anti-aging and antioxidant such as a-tocopherol and g-tocopherol. Findings of these studies prove that patents field for the innovation product of pumpkin seeds holds promise for the future along with their immense nutraceutical properties.

Supplementation with extract of pumpkin seeds exerts estrogenic effects upon the uterine, serum lipids, mammary glands, and bone density in ovariectomized rats

“…is a ubiquitous vine in Asia. Species of pumpkins that are available include Cucurbita pepo (most common), Cucurbita moschata , Cucurbita maxima , and Cucurbita stilbo (Lestari & Meiyanto, ). Pumpkin seeds are edible and have been reported to contain lignan phytoestrogen secoisolariciresinol and lariciresinol (Phillips, Ruggio, & Ashraf‐Khorassani, ).…”

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“…Conversely, components present in minor‐ protein, mineral, terpenic alcohol, and fiber gave a synergistic effect to the major components and could not be neglected. Curcurbita pepo is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids about 80%‐ palmitic acid, myristic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, and linoleic acid, vitamin E like α‐tocopherols, γ‐tocopherols and carotenoid, phytoestrogens, and phytosterols and trace components …”

“…Other uses of pumpkin seed:‐ arthritis, antitumor effect, therapy for irritable bladder, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory, benign prostate hyperplasia, bladder stone disease, alleviated diabetes, abdominal cramps, antiestrogenic, anti‐oxidative, antiviral, antibacterial, insecticidal or fungistatic, treatment of heterophyiasis, immune‐regulatory potential, anti‐peroxidative properties, and diabetic complications (Figure ) …”

“…Curcurbita pepo is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids about 80%-palmitic acid, myristic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, and linoleic acid, vitamin E like α-tocopherols, γ-tocopherols and carotenoid, phytoestrogens, and phytosterols and trace components. 29,30 In a study by Schiebel-Schlosser and Friederich, it was observed that BPH patients when treated with capsules containing 500 mg of pumpkin seed extract there were no side effects. 29 In another study by Young Hye Cho et al, volunteers for a period of 12 months 320 mg of pumpkin seed oil dose were tested which showed improvement than compared with placebo.…”

“…29,30 In a study by Schiebel-Schlosser and Friederich, it was observed that BPH patients when treated with capsules containing 500 mg of pumpkin seed extract there were no side effects. 29 In another study by Young Hye Cho et al, volunteers for a period of 12 months 320 mg of pumpkin seed oil dose were tested which showed improvement than compared with placebo. It is observed that the combination of pumpkin seed and saw palmetto can be beneficial.…”