Pumpkin seeds and leaves as an alternative medicine for the treatment of hyperglycemia

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia due to unhealthy dietary patterns, sedentary lifestyle behavior, and obesity. Among the two types of diabetes, type 2 is the most common in the world and the drugs used to treat hyperglycemia in type 2 DM cause adverse side effects. Hence, it is important to search for an effective natural anti-diabetic treatment to combat hyperglycemia and its complications in diabetic patients. Among the different herbal plants, pumpkin is very popular in terms of reducing blood glucose levels. Pumpkin is a popular vegetable cultivated all over the world and a rich source of bioactive compounds including phenolic compounds, unsaturated fatty acids, vitamin E and carotenoids. Currently, considerable attention is given to the seeds, leaves, and flesh of pumpkins due to their nutritional value and health benefits. However, this article focuses on the potency of pumpkin seeds and leaves to treat hyperglycemia.