In vitro health beneficial activities of Pumpkin seeds from Cucurbita moschata cultivated in Lemnos

Pumpkin seeds are commonly consumed in Greece. Although Cucurbita moschata is locally grown in Lemnos and is traditionally used in pumpkin pies, the seeds are currently discarded after consumption of the fruit flesh. The aim of the present study was to investigate the nutritional functionality of pu...

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Main Authors: Danai Sakka, Haralabos C. Karantonis
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: ISEKI_Food Association (IFA) 2015-10-01
Series:International Journal of Food Studies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.iseki-food-ejournal.com/article/251
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author Danai Sakka
Haralabos C. Karantonis
author_facet Danai Sakka
Haralabos C. Karantonis
author_sort Danai Sakka
collection DOAJ
description Pumpkin seeds are commonly consumed in Greece. Although Cucurbita moschata is locally grown in Lemnos and is traditionally used in pumpkin pies, the seeds are currently discarded after consumption of the fruit flesh. The aim of the present study was to investigate the nutritional functionality of pumpkin seeds from Cucurbita moschata grown in Lemnos. Cucurbita moschatas’ seeds, raw or roasted, were appropriately extracted and the results are presented for raw versus (vs) roasted seed extracts. The phenolic content was expressed as µg gallic acid/g of seeds according to Folin-Ciocalteau assay (370.3 ± 19.1 vs 551.0 ± 22.0). Antioxidant capacity was expressed as equivalent amount for 50% scavenging in mg of seeds for DPPH (50.03 ± 5.91 vs 25.82 ± 6.77) and ABTS (17.85 ± 0.77 vs 12.77 ± 0.76) assays, and as µmol of trolox/g of seeds for FRAP (1.19 ± 0.05 vs 2.50 ± 0.23) and CUPRAC (2.13 ±0.11 vs 3.25 ± 0.06) assays. Antiinflammatory/antithrombotic and anti-diabetic activities were expressed as mg of seeds for 50% inhibition of platelet activating factor (0.62 vs 0.15) and as µg of seeds for 25% inhibition of alpha-glycosidase (40.0 vs 61.0) activities respectively. Moreover, anti-atherogenic activity was expressed as the % increase in lag time of human plasma oxidation (62.7 versus 163.2) Raw and roasted pumpkin seed extracts exert anti-oxidant, anti-thrombotic/anti-inflammatory, antiatherogenic and antidiabetic activities. Cucurbita moschata seeds may represent a novel opportunity for development of functional foods, with a local interest in Lemnos that would contribute also to the regional public health improvement. 
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spelling doaj-art-4efbaa124f1547fdb9509535f0222fe82025-08-20T02:38:35ZengISEKI_Food Association (IFA)International Journal of Food Studies2182-10542015-10-014210.7455/ijfs/4.2.2015.a10In vitro health beneficial activities of Pumpkin seeds from Cucurbita moschata cultivated in LemnosDanai Sakka0Haralabos C. Karantonis1Department of Food Science and Nutrition, University of the Aegean, Mytilene, GreeceDepartment of Food Science and Nutrition, University of the Aegean, Mytilene, GreecePumpkin seeds are commonly consumed in Greece. Although Cucurbita moschata is locally grown in Lemnos and is traditionally used in pumpkin pies, the seeds are currently discarded after consumption of the fruit flesh. The aim of the present study was to investigate the nutritional functionality of pumpkin seeds from Cucurbita moschata grown in Lemnos. Cucurbita moschatas’ seeds, raw or roasted, were appropriately extracted and the results are presented for raw versus (vs) roasted seed extracts. The phenolic content was expressed as µg gallic acid/g of seeds according to Folin-Ciocalteau assay (370.3 ± 19.1 vs 551.0 ± 22.0). Antioxidant capacity was expressed as equivalent amount for 50% scavenging in mg of seeds for DPPH (50.03 ± 5.91 vs 25.82 ± 6.77) and ABTS (17.85 ± 0.77 vs 12.77 ± 0.76) assays, and as µmol of trolox/g of seeds for FRAP (1.19 ± 0.05 vs 2.50 ± 0.23) and CUPRAC (2.13 ±0.11 vs 3.25 ± 0.06) assays. Antiinflammatory/antithrombotic and anti-diabetic activities were expressed as mg of seeds for 50% inhibition of platelet activating factor (0.62 vs 0.15) and as µg of seeds for 25% inhibition of alpha-glycosidase (40.0 vs 61.0) activities respectively. Moreover, anti-atherogenic activity was expressed as the % increase in lag time of human plasma oxidation (62.7 versus 163.2) Raw and roasted pumpkin seed extracts exert anti-oxidant, anti-thrombotic/anti-inflammatory, antiatherogenic and antidiabetic activities. Cucurbita moschata seeds may represent a novel opportunity for development of functional foods, with a local interest in Lemnos that would contribute also to the regional public health improvement. https://www.iseki-food-ejournal.com/article/251Pumpkin seedsCucurbita moschataFunctional foodsIn vitro nutritive value
spellingShingle Danai Sakka
Haralabos C. Karantonis
In vitro health beneficial activities of Pumpkin seeds from Cucurbita moschata cultivated in Lemnos
International Journal of Food Studies
Pumpkin seeds
Cucurbita moschata
Functional foods
In vitro nutritive value
title In vitro health beneficial activities of Pumpkin seeds from Cucurbita moschata cultivated in Lemnos
title_full In vitro health beneficial activities of Pumpkin seeds from Cucurbita moschata cultivated in Lemnos
title_fullStr In vitro health beneficial activities of Pumpkin seeds from Cucurbita moschata cultivated in Lemnos
title_full_unstemmed In vitro health beneficial activities of Pumpkin seeds from Cucurbita moschata cultivated in Lemnos
title_short In vitro health beneficial activities of Pumpkin seeds from Cucurbita moschata cultivated in Lemnos
title_sort in vitro health beneficial activities of pumpkin seeds from cucurbita moschata cultivated in lemnos
topic Pumpkin seeds
Cucurbita moschata
Functional foods
In vitro nutritive value
url https://www.iseki-food-ejournal.com/article/251
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