Abstract
To one of the most valuable pumpkin fruit belongs winter squash (Cucurbita moschata Duch). The aim of this work was to assess the quality of C. moschata fruit and to assess the dynamics of compositional changes after the heat treatment of the pulp. We used six varieties Liscia, Orange, Hannah, UG 201 F1, Waltham, Serpentine. In the samples were analyzed carbohydrate content (glucose, fructose and sucrose), total polyphenols, total carotenoids and antioxidant activity. The fresh pulp and pulp after the heat treatment were observed. Content of carbohydrates was determined by FTIR infrared spectroscopy. Content of total carotenoids, polyphenols and antioxidant activity was determined by spectrophotometry. As the dominant sugar was found to be sucrose. The lowest content of all carbohydrates was found in the variety Serpentine. Fructose content ranged from 7.59 to 12.32 g.100 g-1 dry matter, glucose content from 7.23 to 9.79 g.100 g-1 dry matter and sucrose content 38.67 to 55.94 g.100 g-1 dry matter. After processing there was found a decrease in the sucrose and the slight increase in glucose and fructose content. Total carotenoid content in fruits ranged from 39.01 to 97.67 g mg.100 g-1 dry matter, the content of total polyphenols from 443.98 to 565.44 mg GAE.100 g-1 dry matter and antioxidant activity from 680.18 to 851.87 mg AA.100 g-1 dry matter. After the heat treatment, there was found some decrease in total carotenoids, polyphenols and antioxidant activity as well.
Highlights
It is increasing interest about the use of less known vegetable species as potential sources of raw materials and biologically active substances for agricultural, pharmaceutical and food applications
The highest fructose content we found at variety Hannah (12.32 g.100 g-1 DM) and glucose content was the highest in variety Orange (9.79 g.100 g-1 DM)
The highest polyphenol content we found at variety Hannah, that is variety belonging to the Variety mg.100 g-1 mg.100 g-1 mg GAE.100 g-1 mg GAE.100 g-1 mg ascorbic acid (AA).100 g-1 mg AA.100 g-1
Summary
It is increasing interest about the use of less known vegetable species as potential sources of raw materials and biologically active substances for agricultural, pharmaceutical and food applications. The pumpkin of the Cucurbitaceae family is widely grown and consumed in many countries around the world (Jun et al, 2006) Some varieties such as C. moschata, C. maxima and C. pepo, range in colour from intense yellow to orange and have revealed high levels of carotenoids, mainly α and β-carotene, β-criptoxanthin, lutein and zeaxanthin (Boiteux et al, 2007; Rodriguez-Amaya et al, 2008). This vegetable plant was very popular due to its usefulness in providing health (Kim et al, 2012). The seed which is known to have high amount of zinc, has been used in treating the early stages of prostate problem (Pandya and Rao, 2010)
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