Pumpkin seeds as a Power House of Nutrition: A Review

Abstract

Today the need to obtain nutritious foods from new sources and lower in waste food processing industry has created a high interest. Modification of agro industrial waste products into valuable elements is probably a huge footstep towards the direction of food sustainability. Pumpkin seeds (Cucurbita sp.) are commonly regarded as agro-industrial waste and discarded. However, pumpkin seeds are high in amino acids, phytosterols, unsaturated fatty acids, phenolic compounds, tocopherols, cucurbitacins, and essential minerals, among other nutrients and nutraceuticals. All of these bioactive substances are essential for living a healthy and happy life. The present study aims at reviewing the various researches done in the past on the uses of the pumkin seed for the treatment of digestion problems, diarrhoea, colic, dyspepsia etc. Various researcher investigated that the used of pumpkin seed are beneficial for some diseases such as diabetes, Alzheimer, anti cancer, hypercholesterolemic and hypertension patients. Pumpkin seeds has wide application ,as antimicrobial, antioxidant, insecticidal, encapsulation, antifungal. As from all the studies, that done and concluded that pumpkin seed have be used as functional food for humans by combine with unit operations of food processing for treatment of various ailments.