Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Properties of Pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima) Peel, Flesh and Seeds Powders

Saima Noreen ,Ashiq Hussain ,Muhammad Jamil ,Anjum Murtaza ,Muhammad Iqbal ,Tusneem Kausar ,Ahmad Din

doi:10.7176/jbah/11-6-05

Abstract

This research work was designed to investigate and utilize all three parts (peel, flesh and seeds) of pumpkin for their antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Pumpkin parts were separated, dried, grinded to powder and extracted by using 80% methanol. Percentage yield of pumpkin peel, flesh and seeds extracts, was found 12.37±0.10, 8.84±0.07 and 3.53±0.06% respectively. DPPH free radical scavenging activity (mg AAE/100 g) of pumpkin peel, flesh and seeds extracts was found 13.00±0.08, 10.58:0.06 and 16.53±0.09 respectively. All three types of extracts exhibited prominent antifungal activities against four fungal strains Candida albicans, Fusarium oxysporum, Mucor miehei and Trichoderma spp. Pumpkin seeds extracts exhibited greater zone of inhibition against these fungal strains as compared to pumpkin peel and flesh extracts. For antibacterial study four bacterial strains Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli , Bacillus subtilis and Streptococcus aureus were used. Pumpkin flesh extracts exhibited greater antibacterial activities as compared to pumpkin peel and seeds extracts. Keywords: Pumpkin, Extracts, Antibacterial, Antifungal, Zone of inhibition, Free radicals DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/11-6-05 Publication date: March 31 st 2021

Highlights

Plants are natural sources of many components, responsible to cure various kinds of diseases
The values of percentage yield of 80% MeOH extracts of pumpkin peel, flesh and seeds powders has been presented in Table 1, from where it was clear that among peel, flesh and seeds, highest percentage of extract yield was found for pumpkin peel powder and lowest percentage of extract yield was found for pumpkin seeds powder
Flesh and seeds were prepared using most friendly and effectively working solvents i.e., Methanol and water in 80:20 ratio due to the reason that all volatile and non-volatile components get extracted by two types of solvents mixture

Summary

Introduction

Plants are natural sources of many components, responsible to cure various kinds of diseases. The role of plants, especially fruits and vegetables are highly recognized towards good health and reduced risk of diseases (Mala and Kurian, 2016). Antioxidants play a very important role in different ways, during different types of chronic diseases, in the body of living by protecting the cells from oxidation and scavenging the free radicals produced in the body (Skandrani et al, 2010). Polyphenols present in fruits, vegetables and herbs and in products made from these plant materials like cocoa, wines and beverages, are important naturally occurring antioxidants (Aouidi et al, 2011). In the last few years phenolic compounds from natural plant-based materials have attracted the attention of researchers because they play important role in human health by protecting the body tissues from oxidative stress (Chiou et al, 2007)

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Conclusion