Research Update:Pumpkin and Pumpkin Seed:

  seminal trace...Pumpkin Extract.10:1.Cucurbita pepo,Vegetable Marrow.Cucurbita maxima.

 


   Phytochemical info of Pumpkin and Pumpkin Seed.

 Product Name:
 Synonym:
 Definition:Pumpkin and Pumpkin Seed. are majorly composed of
 Chemical information disclosed as following table:


   Research Update:Pumpkin and Pumpkin Seed:

  Ethnoveterinary medicines used to treat endoparasites and stomach problems in pigs and pets in British Columbia, Canada.:Vet Parasitol. 2007 Jul 10;Lans C, Turner N, Khan T, Brauer G.BCICS, University of Victoria, British Columbia V8W 2Y2, Canada.

 This paper documents the medicinal plants used to treat endoparasites and stomach problems in dogs, cats and pigs in British Columbia, Canada. Ethnoveterinary data was collected over a 6-month period in 2003. The majority of the information on pets came from 2 naturopaths, 10 herbalists, 5 dog trainers, breeders and pet shop owners, 9 holistic veterinarians and 6 of 27 organic farmers. Two pig farmers joined the study in the final stages. The following plants were used as anthelmintics: Artemisia cina O. Berg and C.F. Schmidt, Artemisia vulgaris L., Artemisia annua, Calendula officinalis L., Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench (all Asteraceae), Mentha piperita L. and Salvia officinalis L. (Lamiaceae) (Allium sativum L. (Alliaceae), Cucurbita pepo L. (Cucurbitaceae), Eugenia caryophyllata Thunb (Myrtaceae), Gentiana lutea L. (Gentianaceae), Hydrastis canadensis L. (Ranunculaceae), Juglans nigra L. (Juglandaceae), Olea europaea L. (Oleaceae) and Ruta graveolens L. (Rutaceae)). Stomach problems were treated with: Achillea millefolium L. (Asteraceae), Aloe vera (L.) Burm. f. (Asphodelaceae), Elytrigia repens (L.) Desv. ex Nevski (Poaceae), Frangula purshiana (DC.) Cooper (Rhamnaceae), Juniperus communis L. (Cupressaceae), Melissa officinalis L. and M. piperita L. (Lamiaceae), Petroselinum crispum L. (Apiaceae), Plantago major L. and Plantago ovata Forssk. (Plantaginaceae) Rumex crispus L. and Rumex obtusifolius L. (Polygonaceae), Ulmus fulva Michx. (Ulmaceae) and Zingiber officinalis Roscoe (Zingiberaceae). There is insufficient information available to assess the anthelmintic efficacies of C. officinalis, Salvia officinalis, Eugenia caryophyllata and O. europaea; the other plants have mid- to high-level validity for their ethnoveterinary uses.

  Physiological and metabolic changes of Cucurbita pepo leaves in response to zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV) infection and salicylic acid treatments.:Plant Physiol Biochem. 2007 Jun-Jul;45(6-7):480-9. Epub 2007 Mar 12.Radwan DE, Fayez KA, Mahmoud SY, Hamad A, Lu G.College of Agriculture & Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, 268 Kaixuan Road, Hangzhou 310029, Zhejiang, China. deya90@yahoo.com

 The changes of some physiological and biochemical parameters in pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo cv Eskandarani) leaves associated with zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV) infection and the effect of exogenous application of salicylic acid (SA) were studied in this paper. In comparison to the untreated leaves, ZYMV infected leaves showed many symptoms, including severe mosaic, size reduction, stunting and deformation. Results from analysis of physiological parameters indicated that viral infection and SA treatments affected metabolism. Viral infection decreased pigment, protein and carbohydrate levels. But with all SA treatments, the protein and carbohydrate contents are noticeably increased. Moreover, the other biochemical parameters showed variable alterations. The peroxidase (POX, EC 1.11.1.7) activity and proline contents were induced by both viral infection and SA treatments. In addition, protein patterns represent some newly synthesized polypeptides which reflect formation of pathogenesis related proteins in all treatments. SA treatment increases the plant resistance against ZYMV. This can be noticed through reduction of percentage of the infected plants, decrease in disease severity and virus concentration of the plants treated with SA then inoculated with virus. All results show significant changes in metabolism affected by either viral infection or SA treatments and also indicate that exogenous SA plays an important role in induction of defense mechanism against ZYMV infection.

  Qualitative and quantitative differences in carotenoid composition among Cucurbita moschata, Cucurbita maxima, and Cucurbita pepo.:J Agric Food Chem. 2007 May 16;55(10):4027-33. Epub 2007 Apr 20.Azevedo-Meleiro CH, Rodriguez-Amaya DB.Departamento de Ci¨ºncia de Alimentos, Faculdade de Engenharia de Alimentos, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, C.P. 6121, 13083-862 Campinas, S?o Paulo, Brazil.

 Squashes and pumpkins are important dietary sources of carotenoids worldwide. The carotenoid composition has been determined, but reported data have been highly variable, both qualitatively and quantitatively. In the present work, the carotenoid composition of squashes and pumpkins currently marketed in Campinas, Brazil, were determined by HPLC-DAD, complemented by HPLC-MS for identification. Cucurbita moschata 'Menina Brasileira' and C. moschata 'Goianinha' had similar profiles, with beta-carotene and alpha-carotene as the major carotenoids. The hybrid 'Tetsukabuto' resembled the Cucurbita pepo 'Mogango', lutein and beta-carotene being the principal carotenoids. Cucurbita maxima 'Exposi??o' had a different profile, with the predominance of violaxanthin, followed by beta-carotene and lutein. Combining data from the current study with those in the literature, profiles for the Cucurbita species could be observed. The principal carotenoids in C. moschata were beta-carotene and alpha-carotene, whlereas lutein and beta-carotene dominate in C. maxima and C. pepo. It appears that hydroxylation is a control point in carotenoid biosynthesis.

  Ethnomedicines used in Trinidad and Tobago for reproductive problems.:J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2007 Mar 15;3:13.Lans C.BCICS, University of Victoria, British Columbia, V8W 2Y2, Canada. cher2lans@netscape.net

 BACKGROUND: Throughout history women have tried to control or enhance their fertility using herbal remedies, with various levels of societal support. Caribbean folk medicine has been influenced by European folk medicine, either through the early Spanish and French settlers or through the continuous immigration of Spanish-speaking peoples from Venezuela. Some folk uses are ancient and were documented by Galen and Pliny the Elder. METHODS: Thirty respondents, ten of whom were male were interviewed from September 1996 to September 2000. The respondents were obtained by snowball sampling, and were found in thirteen different sites, 12 in Trinidad (Paramin, Talparo, Sangre Grande, Mayaro, Carapichaima, Kernahan, Newlands, Todd's Road, Arima, Guayaguayare, Santa Cruz, Port of Spain and Siparia) and one in Tobago (Mason Hall). Snowball sampling was used because there was no other means of identifying respondents and to cover the entire islands. The validation of the remedies was conducted with a non-experimental method. RESULTS: Plants are used for specific problems of both genders. Clusea rosea, Urena sinuata and Catharanthus roseus are used for unspecified male problems. Richeria grandis and Parinari campestris are used for erectile dysfunction. Ageratum conyzoides, Scoparia dulcis, Cucurbita pepo, Cucurbita maxima, Gomphrena globosa and Justicia pectoralis are used for prostate problems. The following plants are used for childbirth and infertility: Mimosa pudica, Ruta graveolens, Abelmoschus moschatus, Chamaesyce hirta, Cola nitida, Ambrosia cumanenesis, Pilea microphylla, Eryngium foetidum, Aristolochia rugosa, Aristolochia trilobata, Coleus aromaticus, Laportea aestuans and Vetiveria zizanioides. The following plants are used for menstrual pain and unspecified female complaints: Achyranthes indica, Artemisia absinthium, Brownea latifolia, Eleutherine bulbosa, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, Eupatorium macrophyllum, Justicia secunda, Parthenium hysterophorus, Wedelia trilobata, Abelmoschus moschatus, Capraria biflora, Cordia curassavica, Croton gossypifolius, Entada polystachya, Leonotis nepetaefolia, Eryngium foetidum, Aristolochia rugosa, Aristolochia trilobata and Ambrosia cumanenesis. CONCLUSION: Native Caribbean plants have been less studied that those from Africa, India and Europe. Chamaesyce hirta has scientific support but as a diuretic. Other plants with level 3 validity for reproductive issues are: Achyranthes indica, Coleus aromaticus, Hibiscus rosa-sinesis, Parthenium hysterophorus and Ruta graveolens. The non-experimental validation method can be used to advise the public on which plants are safe, effective and useful, and which are not; pending clinical trials. This is especially important since so few clinical trials are conducted on Caribbean plants.

  In vitro antioxidant properties of cucurbita pepo L. Male and female flowers extracts.:Plant Foods Hum Nutr. 2007 Jun;62(2):49-51. Epub 2007 Feb 17. Tarhan L, Kayali HA, Urek RO.Dokuz Eylul University, Education Faculty, Chemistry Department, 35150, Buca-Izmir, Turkey, leman.tarhan@deu.edu.tr.

 Total antioxidant capacities, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH.), hydroxyl (HO.), scavenging activities, and total phenolic values were determined in extracts of Cucurbita pepo L. female and male flowers. Powdered C. pepo L. samples were extracted in aqueous ethyl acetate (EA: W1, 17:3), ethanol (E), and water (W) by agitating in magnetic stirrer for 80 degrees C, 15 min and also by in aqueous ethyl acetate (EA: W2, 17:3) at 25 degrees C, 15 min. DPPH., HO. scavenging capacities and total phenolic values of C. pepo L. female and male were higher in EA:W2 than in other extracts. In addition, all determined antioxidant capacities of female were significantly higher than male.


  Antioxidative effects of pumpkin seed (Cucurbita pepo) protein isolate in CCl4-induced liver injury in low-protein fed rats.:Phytother Res. 2006 Nov;20(11):935-40.Nkosi CZ, Opoku AR, Terblanche SE.Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Zululand, Private Bag X1001, KwaDlangezwa, 3886, South Africa.

 The effects of pumpkin seed (Cucurbita pepo) protein isolate on the plasma activity levels of catalase (CA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSHpx) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) as well as glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase) in liver homogenates and lipid peroxidation (LPO-malondialdehyde-MDA) levels in liver homogenates and liver microsomal fractions against carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced acute liver injury in low-protein fed Sprague-Dawley rats (Rattus norvegicus) were investigated. A group of male Sprague-Dawley rats maintained on a low-protein diet for 5 days were divided into three subgroups. Two subgroups were injected with carbon tetrachloride and the other group with an equivalent amount of olive oil. Two hours after CCl(4) intoxication one of the two subgroups was administered with pumpkin seed protein isolate and thereafter switched onto a 20% pumpkin seed protein isolate diet. The other two groups of rats were maintained on the low-protein diet for the duration of the investigation. Groups of rats from the different subgroups were killed at 24, 48 and 72 h after their respective treatments. After 5 days on the low-protein diet the activity levels of all the enzymes as well as antioxidant levels were significantly lower than their counterparts on a normal balanced diet. However, a low-protein diet resulted in significantly increased levels of lipid peroxidation. The CCl(4) intoxicated rats responded in a similar way, regarding all the variables investigated, to their counterparts on a low-protein diet. The administration of pumpkin seed protein isolate after CCl(4) intoxication resulted in significantly increased levels of all the variables investigated, with the exception of the lipid peroxidation levels which were significantly decreased. From the results of the present study it is concluded that pumpkin seed protein isolate administration was effective in alleviating the detrimental effects associated with protein malnutrition and CCl(4) intoxication. It is therefore apparent that pumpkin seed protein isolate has components that have antiperoxidative properties.

  Inhibition of testosterone-induced hyperplasia of the prostate of sprague-dawley rats by pumpkin seed oil.:J Med Food. 2006 Summer;9(2):284-6.Gossell-Williams M, Davis A, O'Connor N.Pharmacology Section, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Jamaica. maxine.gossell@uwimona.edu.jm

 The oil from the pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) seed is claimed to be useful in the management of benign prostatic hyperplasia. This investigation seeks to examine the effect of pumpkin seed oil on testosterone-induced hyperplasia of the prostate of rats. Hyperplasia was induced by subcutaneous administration of testosterone (0.3 mg/100 g of body weight) for 20 days. Simultaneous oral administration of either pumpkin seed oil (2.0 and 4.0 mg/100 g of body weight) or corn oil (vehicle) was also given for 20 days. The weights of the rats were recorded weekly, and the influence of testosterone and pumpkin seed oil on the weight gain of the rats was examined. On day 21, rats were sacrificed, and the prostate was removed, cleaned, and weighed. The prostate size ratio (prostate weight/rat body weight) was then calculated. Neither testosterone nor pumpkin seed oil had any significant influence on the weight gain of the rats. Testosterone significantly increased prostate size ratio (P < .05), and this induced increase was inhibited in rats fed with pumpkin seed oil at 2.0 mg/100 g of body weight. The protective effect of pumpkin seed oil was significant at the higher pumpkin seed oil dose (P < .02). We conclude pumpkin seed oil can inhibit testosterone-induced hyperplasia of the prostate and therefore may be beneficial in the management of benign prostatic hyperplasia.

  In Vitro antioxidative activity of pumpkin seed (Cucurbita pepo) protein isolate and its In Vivo effect on alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase in acetaminophen-induced liver injury in low protein fed rats.:Phytother Res. 2006 Sep;20(9):780-3.Nkosi CZ, Opoku AR, Terblanche SE.Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Zululand, Private Bag X1001, KwaDlangezwa, South Africa.

 The antioxidative effects of pumpkin seed protein isolate (Cucurbita pepo) were investigated in vitro. The isolate exhibited about 80% radical scavenging activity, chelating activity of approximately 64% on Fe2+ ions and an inhibition of approximately 10% of xanthine oxidase. Subsequently the effects of the isolate on the plasma activity levels of alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase against acetaminophen induced acute liver injury in low-protein fed male Sprague-Dawley rats were ascertained. The rats were maintained on a low-protein diet for 5 days and divided into three subgroups. Two subgroups were injected with acetaminophen and the other with an equivalent amount of polyethylene glycol 400. Two hours after intoxication one of the two subgroups was administered with the protein isolate. Rats from the different subgroups were killed at 24, 48 and 72 h after treatment. After 5 days on the low-protein diet the activity levels of the enzymes were significantly higher than their counterparts on a normal balanced diet. The administration of protein isolate after acetaminophen intoxication resulted in significantly reduced activity levels. It is concluded that the protein isolate has promising antioxidative properties. Furthermore, the isolate administration was effective in alleviating the detrimental effects associated with protein malnutrition and acetaminophen intoxication.

  Extracts from Pygeum africanum and other ethnobotanical species with antiandrogenic activity.:Planta Med. 2006 Jul;72(9):807-13. Epub 2006 Jun 19. Schleich S, Papaioannou M, Baniahmad A, Matusch R.Institut f¨¹r Pharmazeutische Chemie, Philipps-Universit?t Marburg, Marburg, Germany.

 Extracts from Pygeum africanum, Serenoa repens and Cucurbita pepo are used in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer (PCa). The activity of the androgen receptor (AR) is known to control growth of the prostate. Here, we examined extracts of these plants for their antiandrogenic activity using an AR responsive reporter gene assay for drug discovery. A selective dichloromethane extract from the stem barks of Pygeum africanum revealed the highest antiandrogenic effect. Bioactivity-directed fractionation of this extract led to the isolation of N-butylbenzenesulfonamide (NBBS) indicating that extracts of the stem bark of P. africanum harbour androgen antagonistic activity. This compound may provide a novel approach for the prevention and treatment of BPH and human PCa.

  Intracellular adaptations of glutathione content in Cucurbita pepo L. induced by treatment with reduced glutathione and buthionine sulfoximine.:Protoplasma. 2006 May;227(2-4):197-209. Epub 2006 Mar 9.Zechmann B, M¨¹ller M, Zellnig G.Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Graz, Graz, Austria.

 The intracellular effects of GSH (reduced glutathione) and BSO (buthionine sulfoximine) treatment on glutathione content were investigated with immunogold labeling in individual cellular compartments of Cucurbita pepo L. seedlings. Generally, GSH treatment led to increased levels of glutathione in roots and leaves (up to 3.5-fold in nuclei), whereas BSO treatment significantly decreased glutathione content in all organs. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that glutathione levels in mitochondria, which showed the highest glutathione labeling density of all compartments, remained generally unaffected by both treatments. Since glutathione within mitochondria is involved in the regulation of cell death, these results indicate that high and stable levels of glutathione in mitochondria play an important role in cell survival strategies. BSO treatment significantly decreased glutathione levels (1) in roots by about 78% in plastids and 60.8% in the cytosol and (2) in cotyledons by about 55% in the cytosol and 38.6% in plastids. After a short recovery period, glutathione levels were significantly increased in plastids and the cytosol of root tip cells (up to 3.7-fold) and back to control values in cotyledons. These results indicate that plastids, either alone or together with the cytosol, are the main center of glutathione synthesis in leaves as well as in roots. After GSH treatment for 24 h, severe ultrastructural damage related to increased levels of glutathione was found in roots, in all organelles except mitochondria. Possible negative effects of GSH treatment leading to the observed ultrastructural damage are discussed.


  Selenium species determination in selenium-enriched pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) seeds by HPLC-UV-HG-AFS.:Anal Sci. 2005 Dec;21(12):1501-4.Smrkolj P, Stibilj V, Kreft I, Kapolna E.Jozef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, 1111 Ljubljana, Slovenia.

 Pumpkins were treated by spraying the leaves in the flowering period with a water solution containing 1.5 mg Se per liter in the form of Na2SeO4. The average total selenium content of seeds was found to be 0.19 microg g(-1) in nontreated pumpkins and 1.1 microg g(-1) in exposed ones. For speciation analysis, enzymatic hydrolysis with different amounts of Protease XIV was carried out. Under optimal conditions of enzymatic hydrolysis, 90% of the total selenium was found in soluble forms. Separation of species was performed using HPLC on anion and cation exchange columns and for detection UVHG-AFS was applied. In enzymatic hydrolysis extracts, the main fraction of selenium was bound as selenomethionine (SeMet), representing on average of 81 +/- 8% of the total Se content in the sample.

  Cucurbitosides F-M, acylated phenolic glycosides from the seeds of Cucurbita pepo.:J Nat Prod. 2005 Dec;68(12):1754-7.

 Eight new phenolic glycosides, cucurbitosides F-M (1-8), were isolated from the seeds of Cucurbita pepo. Their structures were elucidated as 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)phenyl 5-O-(2-S-2-methylbutyryl)-beta-d-apiofuranosyl(l-->2)-beta-d-glucopyranoside (1), 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)phenyl 5-O-(3-methylbutyryl)-beta-d-apiofuranosyl(l-->2)-beta-d-glucopyranoside (2), 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)phenyl 5-O-nicotinyl-beta-d-apiofuranosyl(l-->2)-beta-d-glucopyranoside (3), 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)phenyl 5-O-(4-aminobenzoyl)-beta-d-apiofuranosyl(l-->2)-beta-d-glucopyranoside (4), 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-methoxyphenyl 5-O-(2-S-2-methylbutyryl)-beta-d-apiofuranosyl(l-->2)-beta-d-glucopyranoside (5), 4-(hydroxymethyl)phenyl 5-O-(2-S-2-methylbutyryl)-beta-d-apiofuranosyl(l-->2)-beta-d-glucopyranoside (6), 4-(hydroxymethyl)phenyl 5-O-nicotinyl-beta-d-apiofuranosyl(l-->2)-beta-d-glucopyranoside (7), and 4-(hydroxymethyl)phenyl 5-O-(4-aminobenzoyl)-beta-d-apiofuranosyl(l-->2)-beta-d-glucopyranoside (8) on the basis of various spectroscopic analyses and analyses of hydrolysis products.

  Effect of pumpkin seed (Cucurbita pepo) protein isolate on the activity levels of certain plasma enzymes in CCl4-induced liver injury in low-protein fed rats:Phytother Res. 2005 Apr;19(4):341-5.Nkosi CZ, Opoku AR, Terblanche SE.Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Zululand, Private Bag X1001, KwaDlangezwa, 3886, South Africa.

 The effects of pumpkin seed (Cucurbita pepo) protein isolate on the activity levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LD), alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced acute liver injury in low-protein fed rats were investigated. A group of male Sprague-Dawley rats maintained on a low-protein diet for 5 days were divided into three subgroups. Two subgroups were injected with carbon tetrachloride and the other group with an equivalent amount of olive oil. Two hours after CCl4 intoxication one of the two subgroups was administered with pumpkin seed protein isolate. All three subgroups of rats were maintained on the low-protein diet for the duration of the investigation. Groups of rats from the different subgroups were killed at 24, 48 and 72 h after their respective treatments. After 5 days on the low-protein diet the activity levels of all four enzymes were significantly higher than their counterparts on a normal balanced diet. CCl4 intoxication resulted in significant increases in the activity levels of all four enzymes investigated. The administration of pumpkin seed protein isolate after CCl4 intoxication resulted in significantly reduced activity levels of all four enzymes. It is concluded that pumpkin seed protein isolate administration was effective in alleviating the detrimental effects associated with protein malnutrition.

  Somatic embryogenesis in pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.): control of somatic embryo development by nitrogen compounds.:J Plant Physiol. 2004 Feb;161(2):229-36. Leljak-Levani? D, Bauer N, Mihaljevi? S, Jelaska S.Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Rooseveltov trg 6, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia.

 Embryogenic cultures of pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) were initiated from mechanically wounded mature zygotic embryos on 2,4-D-containing MS medium, and on hormone-free, semisolid modified MS medium containing NH4Cl as the sole source of nitrogen. The habituated line was derived from the embryogenic tissue induced with 2,4-D and maintained on medium without growth regulators. Sustained subculturing of the three embryogenic lines on a medium with NH4Cl as the sole source of nitrogen enabled the establishment of highly uniform cultures in which no further development into mature embryo stages occurred. The tissue consisting of proembryogenic globules or globular stage embryos was maintained, without decline, for over six years. Globular embryos proceeded to maturity when a combination of reduced (NH4) and unreduced (NO3) forms of nitrogen was provided in the medium. Different nitrogen sources in the medium caused changes of medium pH during subculture in the pH range of 4.0-6.5. The tissue growth and embryo development were blocked on medium with pH adjusted and stabilized at 4.0 or at 3.2.

  Identification and stereochemical characterization of lignans in flaxseed and pumpkin seeds.:J Agric Food Chem. 2003 Feb 26;51(5):1181-8. Sicilia T, Niemeyer HB, Honig DM, Metzler M.Institute of Food Chemistry and Toxicology, Department of Chemistry, University of Karlsruhe, P.O. Box 6980, Germany.

 Phytoestrogens of the lignan type are widely distributed in plant-derived food items and are believed to protect against hormone-dependent cancer. The richest known dietary source of lignans is flaxseed. Flaxseed has been reported to contain glycosides of secoisolariciresinol as the major lignan, together with small amounts of matairesinol, isolariciresinol, and pinoresinol. Secoisolariciresinol, but none of the other lignans, has so far been identified in pumpkin seeds. In the present study, two different methods for the hydrolysis of lignan glycosides are compared. Artifact formation and loss of lignans under acidic conditions were observed. Lariciresinol was identified by GC-MS analysis in two different types of flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum L. and Linum flavum L.) and in pumpkin seeds (Cucurbita pepo L.) for the first time. Likewise, the novel lignan demethoxy-secoisolariciresinol was tentatively identified in the flaxseed samples. Stereochemical analysis by chiral HPLC of several lignans isolated from flaxseed showed that secoisolariciresinol, matairesinol, and lariciresinol consisted predominantly of one enantiomer.


  Differentiation between lutein monoester regioisomers and detection of lutein diesters from marigold flowers (Tagetes erecta L.) and several fruits by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.:J Agric Food Chem. 2002 Jan 2;50(1):66-70.Breithaupt DE, Wirt U, Bamedi A.Institut f¨¹r Lebensmittelchemie, Universit?t Hohenheim, Garbenstrasse 28, D-70599 Stuttgart, Germany. breithau@uni-hohenheim.de

 Liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (LC-APCIMS) was employed for the identification of eight lutein monoesters, formed by incomplete enzymatic saponification of lutein diesters of marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) by Candida rugosa lipase. Additionally, the main lutein diesters naturally occurring in marigold oleoresin were chromatographically separated and identified. The LC-MS method allows for characterization of lutein diesters occurring as minor components in several fruits; this was demonstrated by analysis of extracts of cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana L.), kiwano (Cucumis metuliferus E. Mey. ex Naud.), and pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.). The assignment of the regioisomers of lutein monoesters is based on the characteristic fragmentation pattern: the most intense daughter ion generally results from the loss of the substituent (fatty acid or hydroxyl group) bound to the epsilon-ionone ring, yielding an allylic cation. The limit of detection was estimated at 0.5 microg/mL with lutein dimyristate as reference compound. This method provides a useful tool to obtain further insight into the biochemical reactions leading to lutein ester formation in plants.

  African Cucurbita pepo L.: properties of seed and variability in fatty acid composition of seed oil.:Phytochemistry. 2000 May;54(1):71-5.Younis YM, Ghirmay S, al-Shihry SS. Department of Chemistry, University of Asmara, Eritrea. yelhassan@kfu.edu.sa

 Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) seeds are used locally in Eritrea to treat tapeworm. Seeds were found to be rich in oil (approximately 35%), protein (38%), alpha-tocoferols (3 mg/100 g) and carbohydrate content (approximately 37%). The physico-chemical properties and fatty acid composition of the seed oil were examined. The four dominant fatty acids found are: palmitic C16:0 (13.3%), stearic C18:0 (8.0%), oleic C18:1 (29.0%) and linoleic C18:2 (47.0%). The oil contains an appreciable amount of unsaturated fatty acids (78.0%) and found to be a rich source of linoleic acid (47.0%). Within the three localities of the study, variations exist in seed properties and the fatty acid composition of the oil.

  Comparative study of the chemical composition and nutritional value of pumpkin seed cake, soybean meal and casein.:Nahrung. 1999 Dec;43(6):392-5.Zdunczyk Z, Minakowski D, Frejnagel S, Flis M.Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Olsztyn, Poland.

 The chemical composition and nutritional value of pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) seed cake (PSC) were studied and compared with those of casein and soybean meal. Crude protein and ether extract content in dry matter of PSC was 598.0 g/kg and 124.6 g/kg, respectively, and was higher than the percentage of these components (474.2 and 28.3 g/kg, respectively) in soybean meal used in this experiment. The main fatty acids in PSC cake were oleic acid (50.4%) and linoleic acid (29.9%). Protein found in PSC contained considerable quantities of tryptophan (1.54 g/16 g N); by contrast, the content of lysine (3.21 g/16 g N) and isoleucine (3.83 g/16 g N) was low. Small quantities of phenolic compounds (2.61 g/kg), low activity of trypsin inhibitors (1.33 TUI/mg) and small quantities of alpha-galactosides (19.9 g/kg) were found in PSC. Among antinutritive components only the content of inositol phosphates in PSC (40.5 mg/g) was higher than in soybean meal (10.8 mg/g). True digestibility coefficient (TD) of PSC protein was similar (83.1%), but protein efficiency ratio (PER) was lower (1.01) in comparison with soybean meal (83.5% and 1.50, respectively). After supplementation with lysine, TD (85.9%) and PER (1.43) in PSC were comparable with TD and PER to soybean meal. The PSC-soybean meal mix diet (protein ratio 1:1) had a higher PER value than the diet with soybean meal only (1.98 vs. 1.50).

  Variability of fatty acid content in pumpkin seeds (Cucurbita pepo L.).:Z Lebensm Unters Forsch. 1996 Sep;203(3):216-9.Murkovic M, Hillebrand A, Winkler J, Leitner E, fannhauser W.Graz University of Technology, Department of Bio- and Food Chemistry, Austria.

 Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) seed oil is a common salad oil which is produced in Slovenia, Hungary and the southern parts of Austria. It is dark green and has a high content of free fatty acids. The seed itself can be eaten. Due to its colour and the foam formation, the oil cannot be used for cooking. The content of vitamin E, especially gamma-tocopherol, is very high. The oil content of the pumpkin seed is about 50%. The variability in the oil content is very high resulting from a broad genetic diversity. Thus a breeding programme for increasing the oil productivity is very promising. The four dominant fatty acids are palmitic, stearic, oleic and linoleic acids. These four fatty acids make up 98 +/- 0.13% of the total amount of fatty acids, others being found at levels well below 0.5%.

  Variability of vitamin E content in pumpkin seeds (Cucurbita pepo L.).:Z Lebensm Unters Forsch. 1996 Apr;202(4):275-8.Murkovic M, Hillebrand A, Winkler J, Pfannhauser W. Graz University of Technology, Department of Bio- and Food Chemistry, Austria.

 Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) seed oil is a common salad oil which is produced in the southern parts of Austria, Slovenia and Hungary. It is dark green and has a high content of free fatty acids. Due to its colour, the oil cannot be used for cooking. The content of vitamin E, especially gamma-tocopherol, is very high. The oil content of the pumpkin seed is about 50%. The seed itself can be eaten. Therefore a pumpkin variety with high vitamin E content is desirable. The aim of this work was to find a variety of Cucurbita pepo which has a high oil yield and a high vitamin E content. A total of 100 breeding lines were tested for their tocopherol content. The tocopherols and tocotrienols are extracted with hexane and analysed by NP-HPLC/FLD with hexane/dioxan (96/4) as eluent, with fluorescence detection at 292/335 nm. The gamma-tocopherol content, which is about 5-10 times as much as that of alpha-tocopherol varies over a broad range (41-620 mg/kg dry pumpkin seeds). Beta- and delta-tocopherol are found at low levels.


  Main carotenoids in pressed seeds (Cucurbitae semen) of oil pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo convar. pepo var. styriaca).:Acta Pharm Hung. 1993 Sep;63(5):247-56. Hungarian.Matus Z, Moln¨¢r P, Szab¨® LG.P¨¦csi Orvostudom¨¢nyi Egyetem Orvosi K¨¦miai Int¨¦zete, P¨¦cs.

 Various use of the oil-pumpkin offers reason for the phytochemical analysis of seed-meal's carotene pigments. Column chromatography was performed on the adsorbents MgO, Celite and CaCO3 with hexane and benzene as eluents. HPLC separation of different pigments was carried out on a 6 microns reverse phase packing with a ternary gradient elution method using a diode-array detector. The main components of the press-residue were lutein [3,3'-dihydroxy-alpha-carotene = (3R,3'R,6'R)-beta,epsilon-carotene-3,3'-diol; 52.5%] and beta-carotene (beta,epsilon-carotene; 10.1%). In addition to the above-mentioned pigments it was successful to reveal the presence of violaxanthin, luteoxanthin, auroxanthin epimers, lutein epoxide, flavoxanthin, chrysanthemaxanthin, 9(9')-cis-lutein, 13(13')-cis-lutein, 15-cis-lutein (central-cis)-lutein, alpha-cryptoxanthin, beta-cryptoxanthin and alpha-carotene (beta,epsilon-carotene) in small quantities.

  Purification and Characterization of Galactinol Synthase from Mature Zucchini Squash Leaves.:Plant Physiol. 1991 Jul;96(3):693-698.Smith PT, Kuo TM, Crawford CG.Seed Biosynthesis Research Unit, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, 1815 North University Street, Peoria, Illinois, 61604.

 Galactinol synthase catalyzes the first committed step in the biosynthesis of raffinose sugars. Previous attempts to purify the enzyme have proven difficult and have resulted in low quantities of unpurified enzyme. Galactinol synthase was purified 752-fold from mature zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L. cv Burpee Hybrid) leaves using sequential liquid chromatography on DE 52, Octyl-Sepharose CL-4B, and Sephacryl S-200. This isolation scheme resulted in an 18.6% recovery of the initial activity. The purified enzyme had a specific activity of 23.3 micromoles per minute per milligram protein, a pH optimum of 7.5, and the activity was enhanced by dithiothreitol and MnCl(2). The enzyme was only half as active with MgCl(2) as with MnCl(2). Na(+), K(+), and Ca(2+) cations had little effect on the enzyme activity, while Co(2+), Zn(2+), Cu(2+), and Fe(3+) cations were strongly inhibitory at 10 millimolar concentrations. Purified galactinol synthase bound specifically to the substrates myo-inositol and UDP-galactose (K(m) = 6.5 and 1.8 millimolar, respectively), while exhibiting little affinity for an alternative glycosyl donor (UDP-glucose) or inositol epimers (epi- and scyllo-). Ten millimolar concentrations of UMP, UDP, UTP, AMP, ADP, ATP, NAD(+), NADH, NADP(+), UDP-xylose, and UDP-mannose, or 20 millimolar sucrose, talose, galactose, glucose, xylose, and melibiose exhibited various degrees of inhibitory effects. Twenty millimolar stachyose, raffinose, fructose, and mannose, and 10 millimolar UDP-glucuronic acid and UDP-galacturonic acid had little or no effect on the enzyme activity. The purified galactinal synthase is a monomer of M(r) 42,000 with an isoelectric point of 4.1.

  Expression of Ascorbic Acid Oxidase in Zucchini Squash (Cucurbita pepo L.).:Plant Physiol. 1991 May;96(1):159-165.Lin LS, Varner JE.Department of Biology, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri 63130.

 The expression of ascorbic acid oxidase was studied in zucchini squash (Cucurbita pepo L.), one of the most abundant natural sources of the enzyme. In the developing fruit, specific activity of ascorbic acid oxidase was highest between 4 and 6 days after anthesis. Protein and mRNA levels followed the same trend as enzyme activity. Highest growth rate of the fruit occurred before 6 days after anthesis. Within a given fruit, ascorbic acid oxidase activity and mRNA level were highest in the epidermis, and lowest in the central placental region. In leaf tissue, ascorbic acid oxidase activity was higher in young leaves, and very low in old leaves. Within a given leaf, enzyme activity was highest in the fast-growing region (approximately the lower third of the blade), and lowest in the slow-growing region (near leaf apex). High expression of ascorbic acid oxidase at a stage when rapid growth is occurring (in both fruits and leaves), and localization of the enzyme in the fruit epidermis, where cells are under greatest tension during rapid growth in girth, suggest that ascorbic acid oxidase might be involved in reorganization of the cell wall to allow for expansion. Based on the known chemistry of dehydroascorbic acid, the end product of the ascorbic acid oxidase-catalyzed reaction, we have proposed several hypotheses to explain how dehydroascorbic acid might cause cell wall "loosening."

  Trypsin inhibitors in summer squash (Cucurbita pepo) seeds. Isolation, purification and partial characterization of three inhibitors.:Acta Biochim Pol. 1984;31(3):267-78.Otlewski J, Polanowski A, Leluk J, Wilusz T.

 Three trypsin inhibitors were isolated from summer squash (Cucurbita pepo) seeds and purified to homogeneity by fractionation with ammonium sulphate and methanol, ion-exchange chromatography and gel filtration. All three inhibitors have lysine at their active site. Two of them (II, IV) show the same isoelectric point (at pH 5.6), amino acid composition and molecular mass (3259). The third inhibitor (III) of molecular mass of 3654 and isoelectric point at 4.9 has additionally one histidine residue and two glutamic acid residues more per molecule.

  Mavicyanin, a blue copper protein from Cucurbita pepo medullosa. Purification and characterization.:Eur J Biochem. 1979 Nov 1;101(1):77-84.Marchesini A, Minelli M, Merkle H, Kroneck PM.

 1. The copper protein mavicyanin has been isolated and purified from the green squash Cucurbita pepo medullosa. 2. Mavicyanin contains one type-1 copper/18000 Mr, which can be characterized by: intense absorption maximum at 600 nm (epsilon = 5000 M-1 cm-1/Cu, A280/A600 = 8.0 +/- 0.5, A600/A403 = 7.0 +/- 0.25, maximum of fluorescence emission at 335 nM. 3. In the oxidized state the copper of mavicyanin is 100% detectable by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). Computer simulation of the rhombic EPR signal gives gz = 2.287, gy = 2.077, gx = 2.025, Az = 3.5 mT, Ay = 2.9 mT and Ax = 5.7 mT. 4. Like other simple type-1 copper proteins, such as stellacyanin, azurin or plastocyanin, mavicyanin is readily reduced by hydroquinone or L-ascorbic acid. Its midpoint potential E'm was determined to be + 285 mV. The reduced protein reacts rather slowly with dioxygen, but is rapidly reoxidized by ferricyanide.


  A lectin from the exudate of the fruit of the vegetable marrow (Cucurbita pepo) that has a specificity for beta-1,4-linked N-acetylglucosamine oligosaccharides.:Biochem J. 1979 Oct 1;183(1):133-7.Allen AK.

 Lectins are present in the exudate (presumably from the phloem) of the fruits of three species of the Cucurbitaceae, namely vegetable marrow (Cucurbita pepo), melon (Cucumis melo) and cucumber (Cucumis sativus). They are all strongly inhibited in their activities by chitin oligosaccharides, but only weakly by N-acetylglucosamine. Glycopeptides from soya-bean agglutinin and fetuin are also strong inhibitors of Cucurbita pepo lectin, indicating that it interacts with internal N-acetylglucosamine residues. The lectin from Cucurbita pepo fruit was purified by affinity chromatography by using chitin oligosaccharides covalently attached to Sepharose. The lectin is not a glycoprotein, and it consists of a single polypeptide chain of about 20,000 mol.wt. It is a major protein (18% of the total) of the phloem exudate and it is postulated that it may have an anti-parasitic function.

  Distribution of alpha-Galactosidase in Cucurbita pepo.:Plant Physiol. 1978 Nov;62(5):713-717.Thomas B, Webb JA.Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1S 5B6.

 The distribution of alpha-galactosidase (alpha-d-galactoside galactohydrolase [EC 3.2.1.22]) in Cucurbita pepo has been determined in an attempt to assess its involvement in hydrolysis of transport sugars of the raffinose oligosaccharide series ([alpha-1-6-0-galactopyranosyl](n) sucrose). Extracts prepared from leaves and petioles at different stages of development, roots, flowers, dry and germinating seeds, all contained appreciable levels of alpha-galactosidase activity. Chromatography of these extracts on DEAE-Sephadex resolved the enzyme into three active isozymic forms. These isozymes were present in all regions of the plant analyzed but their relative proportions varied between tissues and changed within leaf and petiole tissues during development and in seeds during their germination. The level of total alpha-galactosidase activity in the leaf blade measured on a fresh weight or total protein basis remained constant at all developmental stages analyzed. The occurrence of these isozymes in mature exporting leaves indicates an effective intracellular compartmentation between their location and the sites of galactosyl oligosaccharide biosynthesis, accumulation and movement in the tissue. We have used these results to comment on the transport pathway of galactosyl oligosaccharides between the phloem and surrounding tissues in this plant.

  l-Ornithine:2-Oxoacid Aminotransferase from Squash (Cucurbita pepo, L.) Cotyledons: Purification and Properties.:Plant Physiol. 1975 Mar;55(3):502-506.Lu TS, Mazelis M.Department of Food Science and Technology, University of California, Davis, California 95616.

 ORNITHINE: 2-oxoacid aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.13) has been purified over 400-fold with a total recovery of 14% from acetone powders of cotyledons of germinating squash (Cucurbita pepo, L.) seedlings. The pH optimum of the transamination between l-ornithine and alpha-ketoglutarate is 8 and the Michaelis constants are 4.7 mm and 6.3 mm, respectively. The enzyme has a molecular weight of 48,000 as determined by gel filtration. The reaction is essentially specific for alpha-ketoglutarate as the amino group acceptor. The enzyme is inhibited very strongly by hydroxylamine, and less severely by NaCN and isonicotinylhydrazide. No inhibition is observed in the presence of 10 mml-cysteine. The energy of activation is 7.6 kcal/mole. The stability of the enzyme preparation is enhanced by the presence of dithioerythritol and glycerol. The enzyme activity of the most purified fraction is stimulated 30% by the addition of pyridoxal phosphate; however, the evidence for the unequivocal involvement of pyridoxal phosphate was inconclusive.

  The amino acid sequence of plastocyanin from Cucurbita pepo L. (vegetable marrow).:Biochem J. 1974 Nov;143(2):257-64.Scawen MD, Boulter D.

 The amino acid sequence of plastocyanin from marrow was determined. It consists of a single polypeptide chain of mol.wt. 10284 containing 99 amino acid residues. The sequence was determined by using a Beckman 890C automatic sequencer and by dansyl-phenyl isothiocyanate analysis of peptides obtained by the enzymic digestion of purified CNBr fragments. The sequence is in good agreement with the amino acid composition, except that fewer residues of glutamic acid were found in the sequence than were suggested by the composition. Evidence for histidine-37 was weaker than for the rest of the sequence. A ;tree' of phylogenetic affinities was constructed by using several higher-plant plastocyanin sequences.

  Cytokinins in Seeds of Pumpkin.:Plant Physiol. 1970 Jan;45(1):14-18.Gupta GR, Maheshwari SC.Department of Botany, University of Delhi, Delhi 7, India.

 Extracts of seeds of pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo Linn.) contain three chromatographically distinguishable cytokinins which are held on Dowex 50-W and are extractable by ethanol and n-butanol. Two of the active factors are precipitable by silver nitrate at acidic pH. The chromatographic behavior and the spectral characteristics of one of these cytokinins are similar to those of zeatin. However, the R(F) values of the other two active compounds do not match with those of any of the known natural cytokinins.


  Phytosterol, Squalene, Tocopherol Content and Fatty Acid Profile of Selected Seeds, Grains, and Legumes.:Plant Foods Hum Nutr. 2007 Jun 27;Ryan E, Galvin K, O'connor TP, Maguire AR, O'brien NM.Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University College, Cork, Ireland, nob@ucc.ie.

 The unsaponifiable lipid fraction of plant-based foods is a potential source of bioactive components such as phytosterols, squalene, and tocopherols. The objective of the present study was to determine the levels of phytosterols, and squalene, as well as tocopherols (alpha and beta + gamma) in selected grains, seeds, and legumes. The method comprised acid hydrolysis and lipid extraction followed by alkaline saponification, prior to analysis by HPLC. In addition, the fatty acid profile of the foods was determined via total lipid extraction, fatty acid derivitisation and GC analysis. In general, beta-sitosterol was the most prevalent phytosterol, ranging in concentration from 24.9 mg/100 g in pumpkin seed to 191.4 mg/100 g in peas. Squalene identified in all foods examined in this study, was particularly abundant in pumpkin seed (89.0 mg/100 g). The sum of alpha- and beta+ gamma-tocopherols ranged from 0.1 mg/100 g in rye to 15.9 mg/100 g in pumpkin seeds. Total oil content ranged from 0.9% (w/w) in butter beans to 42.3% (w/w) in pumpkin seed and the type of fat, in all foods examined, was predominantly unsaturated. In conclusion, seeds, grains, and legumes are a rich natural source of phytosterols. Additionally, they contain noticeable amounts of squalene and tocopherols, and in general, their fatty acid profile is favorable.

  Oil and tocopherol content and composition of pumpkin seed oil in 12 cultivars.:J Agric Food Chem. 2007 May 16;55(10):4005-13. Epub 2007 Apr 18. Stevenson DG, Eller FJ, Wang L, Jane JL, Wang T, Inglett GE.Cereal Products and Food Science Research Unit, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Peoria, Illinois 61604, USA. David.Stevenson@ars.usda.gov

 Twelve pumpkin cultivars (Cucurbita maxima D.), cultivated in Iowa, were studied for their seed oil content, fatty acid composition, and tocopherol content. Oil content ranged from 10.9 to 30.9%. Total unsaturated fatty acid content ranged from 73.1 to 80.5%. The predominant fatty acids present were linoleic, oleic, palmitic, and stearic. Significant differences were observed among the cultivars for stearic, oleic, linoleic, and gadoleic acid content of oil. Low linolenic acid levels were observed (<1%). The tocopherol content of the oils ranged from 27.1 to 75.1 microg/g of oil for alpha-tocopherol, from 74.9 to 492.8 microg/g for gamma-tocopherol, and from 35.3 to 1109.7 microg/g for delta-tocopherol. The study showed potential for pumpkin seed oil from all 12 cultivars to have high oxidative stability that would be suitable for food and industrial applications, as well as high unsaturation and tocopherol content that could potentially improve the nutrition of human diets.

  Pumpkin seed oil and phytosterol-F can block testosterone/prazosin-induced prostate growth in rats.:Urol Int. 2006;77(3):269-74.Tsai YS, Tong YC, Cheng JT, Lee CH, Yang FS, Lee HY.Institute of Clinical Medicine, Department of Urology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan

 INTRODUCTION: This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of pumpkin seed oil alone or combined with Phytosterol-F on testosterone/prazosin-induced (T-P) prostate growth in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty adult Wistar rats were divided into five groups, including: one control group, rats treated with vehicle only, one group treated with T-P, and two groups of T-P-treated rats, one receiving orally pumpkin seed oil alone and one group receiving orally pumpkin seed oil combined with Phytosterol-F. Two weeks later, the prostatic weight-to-body weight ratio was determined after sacrifice. The total protein concentration was measured by using a protein assay. Some ventral prostatic tissues were histologically examined after hematoxylin-eosin staining. RESULTS: Histological sections of the ventral prostate showed that the architecture of the prostate glands became hyperplastic in the T-P rats, but not in the control or vehicle-treated animals. As compared with the control or vehicle group, T-P rats had a significantly higher prostatic weight-to-body weight ratio for the ventral prostate (p=0.05 and p=0.007, respectively), but not for the dorsolateral prostate (p=0.53 and p=0.73, respectively). The T-P rats had significantly higher protein levels within both lobes (ventral lobe, p=0.02 and p<0.0001, respectively; dorsolateral lobe, p=0.06 and p=0.005, respectively). As compared with the T-P-alone rats, the TP rats treated with pumpkin seed oil alone or pumpkin seed oil combined with Phytosterol-F had a significantly lower weight ratio for the ventral prostate (p=0.01 and p=0.004, respectively) and significantly lower protein levels within both lobes (p=0.03 and p=0.003, respectively; p=0.007 and p=0.002, respectively). In addition, Phytosterol-F had some additive effect on the total protein synthesis within the ventral prostate (p=0.02). CONCLUSION: Pumpkin seed oil alone or combined with Phytosterol-F can block the T-P-induced increases in prostatic weight-to-body weight ratio and protein synthesis.

  Fatty acids by high-performance liquid chromatography and evaporative light-scattering detector.:J Chromatogr A. 2006 Nov 17;1134(1-2):210-4. Epub 2006 Sep 27.Bravi E, Perretti G, Montanari L.Department of Economic and Food Sciences, Section of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Via S. Costanzo n.c.n., 06126 Perugia, Italy. e.bravi@unipg.it

 A high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) separation method with an evaporative light-scattering detector (ELSD) has been developed for the separation and quantitative analysis of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) in three different oils. Reverse-phased C18 HPLC separation of 13 FAME is achieved using a methanol/water eluent mixture. The retention times (RT) reflect the elution behavior of these compounds on C18 reversed-phase HPLC. The proposed method is tested on: soybean oil (Glycine max L.) as reference sample, rice bran oil (Oryza sativa L.), pumpkin seed oil (Cucurbita pepo L.) and algal oil (Arthrospira platensis Nordst.).

  Antioxidative effects of pumpkin seed (Cucurbita pepo) protein isolate in CCl4-induced liver injury in low-protein fed rats.:Phytother Res. 2006 Nov;20(11):935-40. Nkosi CZ, Opoku AR, Terblanche SE.Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Zululand, Private Bag X1001, KwaDlangezwa, 3886, South Africa.

 The effects of pumpkin seed (Cucurbita pepo) protein isolate on the plasma activity levels of catalase (CA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSHpx) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) as well as glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase) in liver homogenates and lipid peroxidation (LPO-malondialdehyde-MDA) levels in liver homogenates and liver microsomal fractions against carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced acute liver injury in low-protein fed Sprague-Dawley rats (Rattus norvegicus) were investigated. A group of male Sprague-Dawley rats maintained on a low-protein diet for 5 days were divided into three subgroups. Two subgroups were injected with carbon tetrachloride and the other group with an equivalent amount of olive oil. Two hours after CCl(4) intoxication one of the two subgroups was administered with pumpkin seed protein isolate and thereafter switched onto a 20% pumpkin seed protein isolate diet. The other two groups of rats were maintained on the low-protein diet for the duration of the investigation. Groups of rats from the different subgroups were killed at 24, 48 and 72 h after their respective treatments. After 5 days on the low-protein diet the activity levels of all the enzymes as well as antioxidant levels were significantly lower than their counterparts on a normal balanced diet. However, a low-protein diet resulted in significantly increased levels of lipid peroxidation. The CCl(4) intoxicated rats responded in a similar way, regarding all the variables investigated, to their counterparts on a low-protein diet. The administration of pumpkin seed protein isolate after CCl(4) intoxication resulted in significantly increased levels of all the variables investigated, with the exception of the lipid peroxidation levels which were significantly decreased. From the results of the present study it is concluded that pumpkin seed protein isolate administration was effective in alleviating the detrimental effects associated with protein malnutrition and CCl(4) intoxication. It is therefore apparent that pumpkin seed protein isolate has components that have antiperoxidative properties.


  Cucurbitosides F-M, acylated phenolic glycosides from the seeds of Cucurbita pepo.:J Nat Prod. 2005 Dec;68(12):1754-7.

 Eight new phenolic glycosides, cucurbitosides F-M (1-8), were isolated from the seeds of Cucurbita pepo. Their structures were elucidated as 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)phenyl 5-O-(2-S-2-methylbutyryl)-beta-d-apiofuranosyl(l-->2)-beta-d-glucopyranoside (1), 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)phenyl 5-O-(3-methylbutyryl)-beta-d-apiofuranosyl(l-->2)-beta-d-glucopyranoside (2), 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)phenyl 5-O-nicotinyl-beta-d-apiofuranosyl(l-->2)-beta-d-glucopyranoside (3), 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)phenyl 5-O-(4-aminobenzoyl)-beta-d-apiofuranosyl(l-->2)-beta-d-glucopyranoside (4), 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-methoxyphenyl 5-O-(2-S-2-methylbutyryl)-beta-d-apiofuranosyl(l-->2)-beta-d-glucopyranoside (5), 4-(hydroxymethyl)phenyl 5-O-(2-S-2-methylbutyryl)-beta-d-apiofuranosyl(l-->2)-beta-d-glucopyranoside (6), 4-(hydroxymethyl)phenyl 5-O-nicotinyl-beta-d-apiofuranosyl(l-->2)-beta-d-glucopyranoside (7), and 4-(hydroxymethyl)phenyl 5-O-(4-aminobenzoyl)-beta-d-apiofuranosyl(l-->2)-beta-d-glucopyranoside (8) on the basis of various spectroscopic analyses and analyses of hydrolysis products.

  Phytosterol composition of nuts and seeds commonly consumed in the United States.:J Agric Food Chem. 2005 Nov 30;53(24):9436-45.Phillips KM, Ruggio DM, Ashraf-Khorassani M.Departments of Biochemistry and Chemistry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USA. kmpvpi@vt.edu

 Phytosterols were quantified in nuts and seeds commonly consumed in the United States. Total lipid extracts were subjected to acid hydrolysis and then alkaline saponfication, and free sterols were analyzed as trimethylsilyl derivatives by capillary GC-FID and GC-MS. Delta5-Avenasterol was quantified after alkaline saponification plus direct analysis of the glucoside. Sesame seed and wheat germ had the highest total phytosterol content (400-413 mg/100 g) and Brazil nuts the lowest (95 mg/100 g). Of the products typically consumed as snack foods, pistachio and sunflower kernel were richest in phytosterols (270-289 mg/100 g). beta-Sitosterol, Delta5-avenasterol, and campesterol were predominant. Campestanol ranged from 1.0 to 12.7 mg/100 g. Only 13 mg/100 g beta-sitosterol was found in pumpkin seed kernel, although total sterol content was high (265 mg/100 g). Phytosterol concentrations were greater than reported in existing food composition databases, probably due to the inclusion of steryl glycosides, which represent a significant portion of total sterols in nuts and seeds.

  Protein source tryptophan versus pharmaceutical grade tryptophan as an efficacious treatment for chronic insomnia.:Nutr Neurosci. 2005 Apr;8(2):121-7.Hudson C, Hudson SP, Hecht T, MacKenzie J.Biosential Inc., 1543 Bayview Avenue, Suite 346, Toronto, Ontario M4G 3B5, Canada. craighudson@biosential.com

 BACKGROUND: Intact protein rich in tryptophan was not seen as an alternative to pharmaceutical grade tryptophan since protein also contains large neutral amino acids (LNAAs) that compete for transport sites across the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Deoiled gourd seed (an extremely rich source of tryptophan-22 mg tryptophan/1 g protein) was combined with glucose, a carbohydrate that reduces serum levels of competing LNAAs which was then compared to pharmaceutical grade tryptophan with carbohydrate as well as carbohydrate alone. METHOD: Objective and subjective measures of sleep were employed to measure changes in sleep as part of a double blind placebo controlled study where subjects were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: (1) Protein source tryptophan (deoiled gourd seed) in combination with carbohydrate; (2) pharmaceutical grade tryptophan in combination with carbohydrate; (3) carbohydrate alone. SUBJECTS: Out of 57 subjects 49 of those who began the study completed the three week protocol. RESULTS: Protein source tryptophan with carbohydrate and pharmaceutical grade tryptophan, but not carbohydrate alone, resulted in significant improvement on subjective and objective measures of insomnia. Protein source tryptophan with carbohydrate alone proved effective in significantly reducing time awake during the night. CONCLUSION: Protein source tryptophan is comparable to pharmaceutical grade tryptophan for the treatment of insomnia.

  Preclinical studies of cucurbita maxima (pumpkin seeds) a traditional intestinal antiparasitic in rural urban areas.:Rev Gastroenterol Peru. 2004 Oct-Dec;24(4):323-7. Spanish.D¨ªaz Obreg¨®n D, Lloja Lozano L, Carbajal Z¨²?iga V.Hospital Nacional Edgardo Rebagliati Martins (HNERM), Lima.

 Experimental research was carried out at the Parasitology and Chemistry laboratories of the Jorge Basadre Grohmann National University, in Tacna. The process involved two phases: (1) determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of Cucurbita Maxima as an antiparasitic agent using canine tapeworms with an intestinal isolation of 5 to 6 hours, and (2) determination of the side-effects of Curbita Maxima on exposed albino rats. It was found that the MIC of 23 gr. of pumpkin seed in 100 ml. of distilled water can produce an antihelminthic effect. This concentration is equivalent to +/- 73 pumpkin seeds (x2 = 5.6, p<0.01). Macroscopically, alterations in helminthic motility are present at a dose of > 23 gr. There is a protheolithic effect with an average survival time of 38.4 minutes.Microscopically the mature proglottids present a destruction of the tegument involving the basal membrane. In the gravid proglottids there is egg destruction. These findings are accentuated when experimenting with Cucurbita Maxima in a concentration of 30 and 32 gr. Superficial non-erosive gastritis was found in weys rats after 4 hours of administering 9 gr/kg.

  Alpha-linolenic acid and cardiovascular diseases.:Med Pregl. 2003;56 Suppl 1:19-25. Serbian.Risti?-Medi? D, Risti? G, Tepsi? V.danijelar@imi.bc.ac.yu

 IMPORTANCE AND METABOLISM OF ALPHA-LINOLENIC ACID: Alpha-linolenic acid is an essential fatty acid which cannot be produced in the body and must be taken by food. Both in animals and humans, alpha-linolenic acid is desaturated and elongated into eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acid. It is also incorporated into plasma and tissue lipids and its conversion is affected by levels of linoleic acid. POTENTIAL ROLE IN PATHOGENESIS OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES: Diet enriched in n-3 fatty acids, especially alpha-linolenic acid, reduces the incidence of cardiac death. Studies have shown that alpha linolenic acid prevents ventricular fibrillation which is the main cause of cardiac death. Studies in rats suggest that alpha-linolenic acid may be more effective in preventing ventricular fibrillations than eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acid. Furthermore, alpha-linolenic acid is the main fatty acid decreasing platalet aggregation which is an important step in thrombosis i.e. non-fatal myocardial infarction and stroke. DIETARY SOURCES AND NUTRITION RECOMMENDATIONS: Dietary sources include flaxseed and flaxseed oil, canola oil, soybean and soybean oil, pumpkin seed and pumpkin oil, walnuts and walnut oil. Strong evidence supports beneficial effects of alpha-linolenic acid and its dietary sources should be incorporated into balanced diet for prevention of cardiovascular diseases. The recommended daily intake is 2 g with a ratio of 5/1 for linoleic/alpha-linolenic acid.


  Purification and characterization of Moschatin, a novel type I ribosome-inactivating protein from the mature seeds of pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata), and preparation of its immunotoxin against human melanoma cells.:Cell Res. 2003 Oct;13(5):369-74.Xia HC, Li F, Li Z, Zhang ZC.Key Laboratory of Proteomics, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China.

 A novel ribosome-inactivating protein designated Moschatin from the mature seeds of pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata) has been successively purified to homogeneity, using ammonium sulfate precipitation, CM-cellulose 52 column chromatography, Blue Sepharose CL-6B Affinity column chromatography and FPLC size-exclusion column chromatography. Moschatin is a type 1 RIP with a pI of 9.4 and molecular weight of approximately 29 kD. It is a rRNA N-glycosidase and potently blocked the protein synthesis in the rabbit reticulocyte lysate with a IC50 of 0.26 nM. Using the anti-human melanoma McAb Ng76, a novel immunotoxin Moschatin-Ng76 was prepared successfully and it efficiently inhibited the growth of targeted melanoma cells M21 with a IC50 of 0.04 nM, 1500 times lower than that of free Moschatin. The results implied that Moschatin could be used as a new potential anticancer agent.

  Isolation of cucurmoschin, a novel antifungal peptide abundant in arginine, glutamate and glycine residues from black pumpkin seeds.:Peptides. 2003 Jul;24(7):969-72.Wang HX, Ng TB.Department of Microbiology, College of Biological Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.

 A novel antifungal peptide, with a molecular mass of 8 kDa in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and in gel filtration on Superdex 75 and designated cucurmoschin, was isolated from the seeds of the black pumpkin. The peptide was unadsorbed on DEAE-cellulose but adsorbed on Affi-gel blue gel. Cucurmoschin inhibited mycelial growth in the fungi Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium oxysporum and Mycosphaerella oxysporum. It inhibited translation in a cell-free rabbit reticulocyte lysate system with an IC50 of 1.2 microM. The N-terminal sequence of cucurmoschin was rich in arginine, glutamate and glycine residues.

  Identification and stereochemical characterization of lignans in flaxseed and pumpkin seeds.:J Agric Food Chem. 2003 Feb 26;51(5):1181-8.Sicilia T, Niemeyer HB, Honig DM, Metzler M.Institute of Food Chemistry and Toxicology, Department of Chemistry, University of Karlsruhe, P.O. Box 6980, Germany.

 Phytoestrogens of the lignan type are widely distributed in plant-derived food items and are believed to protect against hormone-dependent cancer. The richest known dietary source of lignans is flaxseed. Flaxseed has been reported to contain glycosides of secoisolariciresinol as the major lignan, together with small amounts of matairesinol, isolariciresinol, and pinoresinol. Secoisolariciresinol, but none of the other lignans, has so far been identified in pumpkin seeds. In the present study, two different methods for the hydrolysis of lignan glycosides are compared. Artifact formation and loss of lignans under acidic conditions were observed. Lariciresinol was identified by GC-MS analysis in two different types of flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum L. and Linum flavum L.) and in pumpkin seeds (Cucurbita pepo L.) for the first time. Likewise, the novel lignan demethoxy-secoisolariciresinol was tentatively identified in the flaxseed samples. Stereochemical analysis by chiral HPLC of several lignans isolated from flaxseed showed that secoisolariciresinol, matairesinol, and lariciresinol consisted predominantly of one enantiomer.

  Purification and characterization of moschins, arginine-glutamate-rich proteins with translation-inhibiting activity from brown pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata) seeds.:Protein Expr Purif. 2002 Oct;26(1):9-13.Ng TB, Parkash A, Tso WW.Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Basic Medical Sciences Bldg. Rm. 302B, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China. biochemistry@cuhk.edu.hk

 From fresh brown pumpkin seeds, two proteins with a molecular mass of 12kDa and an N-terminal sequence rich in arginine and glutamate residues were obtained. The protein designated alpha-moschin closely resembled the fruitfly programmed-cell death gene product and the protein designated beta-moschin demonstrated striking similarity to prepro 2S albumin in N-terminal sequence. alpha- and beta-moschins inhibited translation in the rabbit reticulocyte lysate system with an IC(50) of 17 microM and 300nM, respectively.

  Treatment of experimental heterophyiasis with two plant extracts, areca nut and pumpkin seed.:J Egypt Soc Parasitol. 2002 Aug;32(2):501-6, 1 p following 506.Mahmoud LH, Basiouny SO, Dawoud HA.Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt.

 The effect of water extracts of areca nut and pumpkin seeds in the treatment of puppies experimental infected with heterophyiasis gave promising results. Puppies were infected through feeding on the muscles of Mugil sp. fish containing the encysted metacercariae of H. heterophyes. Decoctions of pumpkin seeds and areca nut were administered orally 2 weeks after the start of infection as indicated by positive stool examinations. The effect was evaluated by stool examination for eggs, and by autopsy for worms in the intestines. A combined extracts of areca nut and pumpkin seeds gave an excellent result than when given either extract alone.


  With alpha blockers, finasteride and nettle root against benign prostatic hyperplasia. Which patients are helped by conservative therapy?.:MMW Fortschr Med. 2002 Apr 18;144(16):33-6. German.Vahlensieck W.Urologischen Abteilung, Reha-Klinik Wildetal, Bad Wildungen. Winfried.Vahlensieck@t-online.de

 Symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which a man has a 50% chance of developing during the course of his lifetime, should receive stage-related treatment. While Vahlensieck stage I disease requires no therapy, stages II and III are indications for medication. Established medications for the treatment of BPH in current use are alpha-blockers, finasteride, and the phytotherapeutic agents pumpkin seed (cucurbitae semen), nettle root (urticae radix), the phytosterols contained in Hypoxis rooperi, rye pollen and the fruits of saw palmetto (sabalis serrulati fructus). If the patient responds, these medicaments can be given life-long, or intermittently. The hard criterion for the rational use of drug treatment of BPH is, over the long term, the reduction in the number of prostate operations. In stage IV disease surgical measures--after prior compensation of renal function--are to the fore.

  Evaluation of pumpkin seed products for bread fortification.:Plant Foods Hum Nutr. 2001;56(4):365-84.El-Soukkary FA.Department of Food Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Minia University, El-Minia, Egypt.

 Pumpkin seed products (raw, roasted, autoclaved, germinated, fermented, pumpkin protein concentrate and pumpkin protein isolate) were incorporated into wheat flour to produce blends with protein levels of 15, 17, 19 and 21%. Dough properties were evaluated by a farinograph; loaves of breads were evaluated by a taste panel for crust color, crumb color, crumb texture, flavor, and overall quality. Results indicated that pumpkin seed products can be added to wheat flour up to a 17% protein level for raw, roasted and autoclaved pumpkin meal, 19% level for germinated, fermented and pumpkin protein concentrate and 21% level for pumpkin protein isolate without a detrimental effect on dough or loaf quality. On the other hand, the addition of pumpkin seed proteins resulted in increasing protein, lysine and mineral contents compared to the control. While lysine and tryptophan were the first and second limiting amino acids in the control bread, tryptophan and lysine were the first and second limiting amino acids for raw, roasted, autoclaved, germinated and fermented pumpkin meal; valine and lysine and valine and total sulfur amino acids were the first and second limiting amino acids for pumpkin protein concentrate and isolate, respectively. In vitro protein digestibility improved when the pumpkin seed proteins were added.

  Purification and Properties of ent-Kaurene Synthase B from Immature Seeds of Pumpkin.:Plant Physiol. 1995 Dec;109(4):1239-1245.

 ent-Kaurene synthase B (KSB) was purified 291-fold from a crude enzyme preparation from endosperm of pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima L.). Separation of ent-kaurene synthase A and KSB was achieved by hydrophobic interaction chromatography. The fractions containing KSB activity were further purified by diethylaminoethyl, phenyl, and hydroxyapatite column chromatography. Using sodium dodecyl phosphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the purest enzyme preparation showed a major band at an apparent molecular mass of 81 kD. The amount of protein in this band was correlated with KSB activity after diethylaminoethyl and hydroxyapatite chromatography. The N terminus of the 81-kD protein was blocked. Therefore, the protein was partially digested with protease and the amino acid sequences of the resulting major peptide fragments were analyzed. A polyclonal antibody was raised against a synthetic peptide based on the longest peptide fragment combined with a keyhole limpet hemocyanin. The antibody recognized only the 81-kD denatured protein and not the native KSB. The properties of KSB were examined using the phenyl-purified enzyme preparation. The Km value for copalyl pyrophosphate was 0.35 [mu]M, and the optimal pH was 6.8 to 7.5. The KSB activity required divalent cations such as Mg2+, Mn2+, and Co2+, whereas Cu2+, Ca2+, and Ba2+ inhibited the activity.

  Effect of the extracts of pumpkin seeds on the urodynamics of rabbits: an experimental study.:J Tongji Med Univ. 1994;14(4):235-8.Zhang X, Ouyang JZ, Zhang YS, Tayalla B, Zhou XC, Zhou SW.Department of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical University, Wuhan.

 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.

  The effect of pumpkin seeds snack on inhibitors and promoters of urolithiasis in Thai adolescents.:J Med Assoc Thai. 1993 Sep;76(9):487-93.Suphiphat V, Morjaroen N, Pukboonme I, Ngunboonsri P, Lowhnoo T, Dhanamitta S.Division of Experimental Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.

 Supplementation of basal mixture or pumpkin seeds snack gave a higher level of inhibitor of crystal formation or aggregation than the control period. Moreover, pumpkin seeds snack showed inhibition effect to a greater extent than basal mixture. In the light of this study, it is suggested that pumpkin seeds snack, a high nutritive mixture, is satisfactory to improve the nutrients and increase the level of inhibitors of crystal formation or aggregation which will subsequently reduce the risk of bladder stone disease in Thailand.


  Chemical and biological characterization of meal and protein isolates from pumpkin seed (Cucurbita moschata).:Arch Latinoam Nutr. 1992 Dec;42(4):443-50. Portuguese.Salgado JM, Takashima MK.Escola Superior de Agricultura Luis de Queiroz, USP, Piracicaba.

 The present study was carried out in order to check through chemical and biological analyses the nutritional characteristics of pumpkin seed, its delipidized meal and its proteic concentrate, considering its availability, nutritional potential, facility for production in poor soils and the need for new food resources. Another objective was to complement the amino acid pattern of pumpkin with others protein sources for human consumption. The results obtained indicate that: Raw pumpkin seed meal has a proteic values of 37.6% and the delipidized meal 68.8%; The PER values for raw seed meal and delipidized meal were 2.26 and 1.65, respectively; The chemical composition revealed that the delipized pumpkin seed meal was limited in threonine (66.8%); The isolate and seed meal proteins were both complemented with lysine and with cowpea bean meal; Whole pumpkin seed meal obtained from variety Caravelle is a good caloric material (approximately 568 cal/100 g).

  A new protein inhibitor of trypsin and activated Hageman factor from pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima) seeds.:FEBS Lett. 1990 Oct 29;273(1-2):163-7.Krishnamoorthi R, Gong YX, Richardson M.Department of Biochemistry, Kansas State University, Manhattan 66506.

 A protein inhibitor (CMTI-V; Mr 7106) of trypsin and activated Hageman factor (Factor XIIa), a serine protease involved in blood coagulation, has been isolated for the first time from pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima) seeds by means of trypsin-affinity chromatography and reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The dissociation constants of the inhibitor complexes with trypsin and Factor XIIa have been determined to be 1.6 x 10(-8) and 4.1 x 10(-8) M, respectively. The primary structure of CMTI-V is reported. The protein has 68 amino acid residues and one disulfide bridge and shows a high level of sequence homology to the Potato I inhibitor family. Furthermore, its amino terminus consists of an N-acetylates Ser. The reactive site has been established to be the peptide bond between Lys44-Asp45. The modified inhibitor which has the reactive site peptide bond hydrolyzed inhibits trypsin but not the Hageman factor.

  Pumpkin seed inhibitor of human factor XIIa (activated Hageman factor) and bovine trypsin.:Biochemistry. 1982 Aug 3;21(16):3741-6.Hojima Y, Pierce JV, Pisano JJ.

 A strong inhibitor of human Hageman factor fragment (HFf, beta-factor XIIa) and bovine trypsin was isolated from pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima) seed extracts by acetone fractionation, by chromatography on columns of diethyl-aminoethylcellulose and carboxylmethyl-Sephadex C-25, and by Sephadex G-50 gel filtration. Pumpkin seed Hageman factor inhibitor (PHFI) is unusual in its lack of inhibition of several other serine proteinases tested--human plasma, human urinary, and porcine pancreatic kallikreins, human alpha-thrombin, and bovine alpha-chymotrypsin. Human plasmin and bovine factor Xa are only weakly inhibited. PHFI also inhibits the HFf-dependent activation of plasma prekallikrein and clotting of plasma. Other properties of PHFI are a pI of 8.3, 29 amino acid residues, amino-terminal arginine, carboxyl-terminal glycine, 3 cystine residues, undetectable sulfhydryl groups and carbohydrate, and arginine at the reactive site. The minimum molecular weight of PHFI is 3268 by amino acid analysis. PHFI may be the smallest protein inhibitor of trypsin known.

  Treatment of Taenia saginata infection with mixture of areca nuts and pumpkin seeds.:Zhonghua Min Guo Wei Sheng Wu Xue Za Zhi. 1976 Jun;9(1-2):31-5.Chung WC, Ko BC.

 In January and February 1974, 32 adults (20 males and 12 females) and a 13-year-old girl with taeniasis saginata were treated with the mixture of boiled areca nuts and pumpkin seeds at Mastoban, Jen-ai District, Nantou County, Taiwan. A total of 48 worms including 42 scolices were recovered from 29 cases. Side-effects were observed in 4 cases including 3 with complaints of dizziness, tinnitus, nausea and vomiting, and one with coma and abdominal pain. Mixtures of 75-150 g areca nuts and 50-100 g pumpkin seeds were judged effective and safe.


  Scientific References:

  1.Research Update:Pumpkin and Pumpkin Seed: