Cucurbita Moschata Research Articles

A greener approach to assess bioactive compounds in tropical pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata) using colorimetry

Bioactive compounds have been shown to promote healthy human development and protect against certain diseases including some cancers. Tropical pumpkins bred for consumption, such as calabaza (Cucurbita moschata), possess these compounds, though concentrations vary considerably between varieties. Bioactive compound quantification methods can be expensive, complex, and generate considerable hazardous waste. A predictive tool utilizing the relationship between extrinsic properties and tristimulus colorimetry values of calabaza would allow for significantly higher throughput with lower requirements for equipment, training, and laboratory consumables. Therefore, this study examined correlations between flesh color and bioactive compound quantities of several calabaza germplasm lines to assess the utility of a sustainable and portable predictive tool. CIEL* a* b* values of pumpkin flesh were assessed using a colorimeter and compared to bioactive compound concentrations determined analytically. Redness was found to correlate with increased ascorbic acid and total soluble solids content. Yellowness correlated with β-carotene equivalent carotenoids and ascorbic acid content. These results suggest that colorimetry may be a viable pre-screening technique for quantifying bioactive compounds in C. moschata.

Integrative multi-omics analysis of chilling stress in pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata).

Pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata) is an important vegetable crop that often suffers from low-temperature stress during growth. However, the molecular mechanism involved in its response to chilling stress remains unknown. In this study, we comprehensively investigated the effect of chilling stress in pumpkin seedlings by conducting physiological, transcriptomic, and metabolomic analyses. Under chilling stress, there was an overall increase in relative electrical conductivity, along with malondialdehyde, soluble sugar, and soluble protein contents, but decreased superoxide dismutase and peroxidase activities and chlorophyll contents in seedling leaves compared with controls. Overall, 5,780 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 178 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) were identified under chilling stress. Most DEGs were involved in plant hormone signal transduction and the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway, and ERF, bHLH, WRKY, MYB, and HSF transcription factors were induced. Metabolomic analysis revealed that the contents of salicylic acid (SA), phenylalanine, and tyrosine increased in response to chilling stress. The findings indicated that the SA signaling and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathways are key to regulating the responses to chilling stress in pumpkins. Overall, our study provides valuable insights into the comprehensive response of C. moschata to chilling stress, enriching the theoretical basis of this mechanism and facilitating the development of molecular breeding strategies for pumpkin tolerance to chilling stress.

Optimizing Greenhouse Cucumber Fertigation Through Grafting: Improving Yield, Bioactive Compounds, and Antioxidant Activity

Consumers prefer cucumbers (Cucumis sativus) with high antioxidant content, which is often at odds with farmers’ goals of maximizing yield. Therefore, this study aims to explore new methods for fertigation and grafting to optimize the yield and quality of cucumbers. In a greenhouse experiment, we tested fertigation with three different nutrient solutions: the standard as a control (CF) and two new formulations (NF1 and NF2). We also examined grafting in three variants: non-grafted (CG), grafting onto Cucurbita moschata × Cucurbita moschata (G1), and grafting onto Lagenaria siceraria (G2). Our results showed that the highest increase in phenolic content in the flesh of cucumber was observed in the NF2 × G1 treatment (↑ 22.4%). In contrast, grafting and the new fertigation methods generally reduced the phenolic content in the peel. Grafting with G1 significantly increased flavonoid content in the flesh (↑ 59.4% and ↑ 77.3%) but significantly decreased it in the peel. The NF2 × G1 treatment achieved the most significant increases in antioxidant activity indicators, DPPH (↑ 25.9%) and FRAP (↑ 39.4%). For farmers seeking to achieve high yields of greenhouse cucumbers, the combination of NF1 × G1 is recommended, as it resulted in the highest yield increase (↑ 45.3%). Consumers are advised to eat cucumbers with the peel, as this study found higher levels of antioxidant compounds in the peel compared to the flesh.

Mechanistic in vitro study of the effect of Cucurbita moschata (Cucurbitaceae) on carbohydrate digestive enzymes.

Diabetes is marked by postprandial hyperglycemia (PHG), an abnormal rise in blood glucose after meals. A key therapeutic goal to reduce PHG is the inhibition of α-amylase (αAM) and α-glucosidase (αGL), enzymes that break down carbohydrates into sugars. Cucurbita moschata has been shown to inhibit both enzymes. However, its inhibition mechanism has not been explored. This study investigated the in vitro inhibition mechanisms of αAM and αGL and conducted a metabolomic analysis of C. moschata (edible part) water-extract (CME), aiming to preliminarily identify its bioactive compounds (BCs). The inhibitory mechanisms were determined using Lineweaver-Burk plots. The BCs were identified and quantified using HPLC-QTOF-MS, employing both targeted and untargeted metabolomic approaches. CME had a significant higher effect (p<0.05) on αAM activity than against αGL with IC50 of 28.99 and 698.42mg/mL, respectively. The extract showed mixed and uncompetitive type inhibitions on αAM and αGL, respectively. The lowest inhibition constant (Ki) was 47.68mg/mL on αAM activity at 20mg/mL. Untargeted metabolic profiling by UPLC-MS-ESI-QTOF putatively identified 30 compounds in CME, such as amino acids, vitamins, phytohormones, fatty acids, cucurbitacins and phenolic acids, and flavonoids. Functional analysis of CME identified significant pathways, including pantothenate and CoA biosynthesis and phenylpropanoids, among others. The targeted analysis by UPLC-MS-ESI-QqQ allowed us to identify 12 compounds, with l-phenylalanine, p-hydroxybenzoic, and p-coumaric acid as majors. This study demonstrated the inhibitory potential of CME on αAM and αGL activities, which may be attributed to its metabolites. Thus, this plant represents a valuable source of BC against PHG. Practical Application: The research highlights that Cucurbita moschata has significant potential in managing postprandial hyperglycemia in diabetic patients by inhibiting enzymes like α-amylase and α-glucosidase. In addition, the identification of its compounds emphasizes its importance as a source of bioactive compounds. Therefore, C. moschata could be effectively utilized in the development of nutraceuticals or as an ingredient in functional foods specifically designed for postprandial hyperglycemia management. Thus, integrating C. moschata as part of the daily diet could offer patients with diabetes a natural alternative to control their blood glucose levels after eating.

Dynamic Changes and Correlation Analysis of Pumpkin Quality and Physiological Indicators during Postharvest Storage

Pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata Duch.) is a versatile crop with strong stress resistance and promising growth potential. Widely cultivated in various regions of China, it ranks among the top crops globally in terms of both planting area and consumption. Known for its pleasant taste and high nutritional value, pumpkin pulp is rich in essential trace elements for the human body. Even after harvest, pumpkin fruit remains metabolically active, requiring its own nutrients to complete the postripening process. Failure to provide proper postharvest storage conditions can lead to excessive water loss and rapid nutrient depletion, resulting in rough, shriveled, and even rotten peel, ultimately diminishing the economic value of the pumpkin. This study aimed to investigate the changes in pumpkin quality and physiological indicators during storage to provide insights to determine optimal consumption and processing periods of pumpkins. The pumpkins were stored at a temperature of 16 ± 2 °C and 60% to 80% humidity during the experiment. The dynamic changes in fruit quality, hardness, respiration rate, malondialdehyde content, level of antioxidant enzymes, and other indicators of two pumpkin cultivars (BM5 and JQ) were assessed during storage, and the correlation among these indicators was evaluated. The results indicated a decrease in the vitamin C content and pulp hardness, whereas the superoxide dismutase and catalase contents initially increased and then decreased, and malondialdehyde and weight loss rates increased over the storage period. The weight loss rate exhibited significant positive and negative correlations with the malondialdehyde content (P &lt; 0.01) of the two cultivars, whereas the vitamin C content showed a significant positive correlation with pulp hardness (P &lt; 0.01). The findings indicate that optimal fruit quality was maintained within 40 days of postharvest storage. This study provides valuable insights into the selection of storable pumpkin cultivars.

The Effect of Mocaf Flour and Yellow Pumpkin Flour (Cucurbita Moschata) Proportion on the Acceptability and Physicochemical Quality of Wet MI

Overcoming dependence on wheat flour as raw material, researchers want to develop a wet noodle product by using mocaf flour to substitute wheat flour and adding pumpkin flour to increase the nutritional value of wet noodles, namely potassium minerals as an alternative main food that can help lower blood pressure in hypertension sufferers.To determine the effect of the proportion of mocaf flour and pumpkin flour on the physicochemical quality of wet noodles. This type of research uses an experimental study design with a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The comparison of the proportions of mocaf flour and pumpkin flour is P0 (100g : 0g), P1 (95g : 5g), P2 (90g :10g), P3 (85 g :15g), P4 (80g :20g). Physical quality and chemical quality test data were analyzed using the Independent T-test. The research results show that the percent water absorption capacity; percent elongation; potassium levels; and sodium levels, namely P0 (58.5% ; 19.8% ; 16.5mg/100 g; 5.64 mg/100g), P2 (70.3% ; 8.8% ; 55.95 mg/100g ; 5.55 mg/100g). The best treatment P2 does not meet the adult RDA percentage and cannot be classified as high in potassium. Wet noodle products cannot yet be used as an alternative to foods high in potassium for preventing hypertension.

Fine mapping and identification of ERF transcription factor ERF017 as a candidate gene for cold tolerance in pumpkin.

Two major QTLs for cold tolerance in pumpkin were localised, and CmoERF017 was identified as a key candidate gene within these QTLs via RNA-seq. Functional analysis revealed that CmoERF017 was a positive regulator of pumpkin in response to low-temperature stress. Low temperature is a key environmental factor that affects the protected cultivation of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) in winter, and the cold tolerance of cucumber/pumpkin-grafted seedlings depends on the rootstock. Pumpkin (Cucurbita spp.) has a well-developed root system, high resistance and wide adaptation, commonly used as rootstock for cucumber to improve the cold tolerance of grafted seedlings. This study used two high-generation inbred lines of Cucurbita moschata with significant differences in cold tolerance. We identified key candidate genes within the major cold tolerance QTL of rootstocks using QTL-seq and RNA-seq and investigated the function and molecular mechanisms of these genes in response to low-temperature stress. Results showed that QTL-seq located two cold tolerance QTLs, qCII-1 and qCII-2, while RNA-seq located 28 differentially expressed genes within these QTLs. CmoERF017 was finally identified as a key candidate gene. Functional validation results indicated that CmoERF017 is a positive regulator of pumpkin in response to low-temperature stress and affected root ABA synthesis and signalling by directly regulating the expression of SDR7 and ABI5. This study identified a key gene for low-temperature stress tolerance in rootstock pumpkin and clarified its role in the molecular mechanism of hormone-mediated plant cold tolerance. The study findings enrich the theoretical understanding of low-temperature stress tolerance in pumpkin and are valuable for the selection and breeding of cold-tolerant varieties of pumpkin used for rootstocks.

The Effect of Potassium Dosage and Branch-Pruning on the Growth and Yield of Butternut Squash (Cucurbita moschata Durch)

Butternut squash (C. moschata) is a honey squash plant (Cucurbita moschata Durch) which is an introduced plant from the lowlands of South America and has adapted to Indonesia. The research was carried out in the planting area of Kampung Labu Madu, Toyoresmi Village, Ngasem District, Kediri Regency from January to June 2021. Potassium is among major nutrients needed by plants in their growth and development. Potassium fertilization can help plants improve the regulation of photosynthetic mechanisms, carbohydrate translocation, protein synthesis This research was a two-factor factorial experiment prepared using a Split Plot Design. The first factor (main plot) was the branch pruning (P) treatment which consisted of 2 levels and the second factor (subplot) was the dose of KCl (K) fertilizer which consisted of 4 levels. The results of the research showed that there was a real influence in the treatment without pruning on the parameters of the number of male flowers and on the parameter of fruit weight with the best treatment being pruning, whereas for the treatment the dose of KCl fertilizer had a real effect on the parameters.

The Effect of Substituting Wheat Flour with Composite Flour (Cucurbita moschata and Daucus carota L.) on Biscuits as a Source of Beta Carotene for Stunted Children

The problem of stunting in Indonesia is still quite high, namely 21,6% based on data from the 2022 Indonesian Nutrition Status Survey (SSGI). One of the effective measures to control stunting is through providing additional food (PMT) such as biscuits to children. Carrots and pumpkin are local foods that are rich in beta carotene. Carotenoids as a source of provitamin A are able to overcome the problem of vitamin A deficiency (VAD), which is the cause of growth disorders in children. This research aims to determine the effect of substitution of yellow pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata) and carrot (Daucus carota L.) composite flour on organoleptic characteristics including color, aroma, taste, texture and nutritional content (beta carotene, carbohydrates, protein and fat). This research used a Randomized Block Design (RAK) with 3 treatments, namely formula 1 (150 grams of wheat flour, 50 grams of pumpkin flour and 50 grams of carrot flour), formula 2 (50 grams of wheat flour, 60 grams of pumpkin flour and 50 grams of flour carrots) and formula 3 (50 grams of wheat flour, 50 grams of pumpkin flour and 150 grams of carrot flour) with 3 repetitions. The research results showed that formula 3 biscuits were the best formulation in terms of organoleptic characteristics with the highest beta carotene content compared to F1 and F2. F3 biscuits contain 30,97 mg beta carotene, 7,45 grams of carbohydrates, 3,22 grams of protein and 8,89 grams of fat. The conclusion of this research is that the substitution of wheat flour with composite flour (Cucurbita moschata and Daucus carota L.) has an effect on the nutritional content (beta carotene, carbohydrates, protein and fat) of biscuits. Consuming pumpkin biscuits per 100 grams can qualify as a good source of the antioxidant beta carotene.

Recurrent selection of pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata) genotypes to increase fruit quality

Recurrent selection of pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata) genotypes to increase fruit quality

Breeding and genetics of resistance to major diseases in Cucurbita—A review

AbstractCucurbita crops, which include market types of pumpkin and squash, have unparalleled fruit variation and equally important economic value worldwide. Pumpkin and squash have versatile uses but are most popular in culinary, ornamental, snacking, and seed oil industries. The production of Cucurbita crops is hindered by diseases caused by fungal, oomycetes, and viral pathogens. Host resistance is an important component of integrated disease management for Cucurbita crops and is a major goal for plant breeders. This review addresses the major diseases of Cucurbita, including powdery mildew, downy mildew, Phytophthora rot, and aphid and whitefly transmitted viruses, with an emphasis on germplasm exploitation for the development of resistant cultivars. Resistance to powdery mildew derived from Cucurbita okeechobeensis subsp. martinezii (designated PM‐0) has been extensively deployed in commercial cultivars and was recently mapped on chromosomes 3 and 10 of Cucurbita moschata and Cucurbita pepo, respectively. Resistance to Phytophthora crown rot is present across several Cucurbita species, including Cucurbita lundelliana, C. okeechobeenesis subsp. okeechobeenesis, C. moschata, and C. pepo. Mapping studies have identified significant loci associated with Phytophthora crown rot resistance on chromosomes 4, 11, and 20 of C. moschata and chromosomes 4, 5, 8, 12, 13, 16, and 19 of C. pepo. Sources of resistance to aphid‐transmitted viruses exist in C. moschata, Cucurbita ficifolia, Cucurbita ecuadorensis, Cucurbita martinezii, C. ecuadorensis, Cucurbita maxima, and Cucurbita foetidissima. The availability of DNA markers linked to resistance against zucchini yellow mosaic virus and papaya ringspot virus in C. moschata and C. pepo has facilitated marker‐assisted selection (MAS) in breeding programs. On the other hand, sources of resistance to tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV), a major whitefly‐transmitted virus in Cucurbita, have been identified in C. moschata, C. lundelliana, and C. okeechobeensis. A major locus conferring resistance to ToLCNDV in C. moschata was recently mapped on chromosome 8 enabling the application of MAS with a prediction accuracy of 94.3%. Overall, the continued discovery and application of genomic tools for resistance breeding in Cucurbita will accelerate the rate of genetic gain while reducing costs associated with phenotyping.

Organic Capillary Barriers for Soil Water Accumulation in Agriculture: Design, Efficiency and Stability

Acute shortage of water resources and high unproductive water losses are the key problems of irrigated agriculture in arid regions. One of the possible solutions is to optimize soil water retention using natural and synthetic polymer water absorbers. Our approach uses the HYDRUS-1D design to optimize the placement of organic water absorbents such as peat and composite hydrogels in the soil profile in the form of water-storing capillary barriers. Field testing of the approach used a water balance greenhouse experiment with the cultivation of butternut squash (butternut squash (Cucurbita moschata (Duchesne, 1786)) under sprinkler irrigation with measurement of the soil moisture profile and unproductive water losses in the form of lysimetric water outflow. In addition, the biodegradation rate of organic water absorbents was studied at the soil surface and at a depth of 20 cm. Organic capillary barriers reduced unproductive water losses by 40–70%, retaining water in the topsoil and increasing evapotranspiration by 70–130% with a corresponding increase in plant biomass and fruit yield. The deepening of organic soil modifiers to the calculated depth not only allowed capillary barriers to form, but also prevented their biodegradation. The best results in soil water retention, plant growth and yield according to the “dose-effect” criterion were obtained for a composite superabsorbent with peat filling of an acrylic polymer matrix. The study showed good compliance between the HYDRUS design and the actual efficiency of capillary barriers as an innovative technology for irrigated agriculture using natural and synthetic water absorbents.

Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of CmoADHs in Cucurbita moschata—Critical role of CmoADH9 in drought tolerance

In plants, alcohol dehydrogenases (ADHs) are involved in stress response, organ development, fruit ripening, and metabolite synthesis. However, little is known regarding ADH-encoding genes (ADHs) in Cucurbita moschata which is usually used as a rootstock for cucumber, melon, watermelon, and other cucurbit crops to resist soil-borne diseases and abiotic stresses. We identified 11 CmoADHs in the C. moschata genome that were unevenly distributed across seven chromosomes. These genes were predicted to encode stable cytoplasmic acidic proteins, sharing a low degree of identity with each other. The genes exhibited different intron–exon structures. Analysis of cis-acting regulatory elements showed that CmoADHs contain environmental stress-, hormone response-, light response-, and development/tissue specificity-related elements in their promoters. Expression pattern analysis revealed that CmoADH2, CmoADH3, CmoADH4, CmoADH9, CmoADH10, and CmoADH11 had the highest expression levels in the roots, which were significantly higher than those in the other tested tissues. These six genes may play important roles in the growth and development of roots, and in related abiotic stress responses. CmoADH1, CmoADH5, CmoADH6, CmoADH7, CmoADH8 had the highest expression in the apical region and could be involved in the differentiation of newly formed tissues. To study the role of CmoADHs in abiotic stress, salt, drought, low temperature, and ethephon treatments were performed. Under drought conditions, CmoADHs showed different expression trends. The expression levels of CmoADH1, CmoADH2, CmoADH3, and CmoADH9 increased significantly and peaked after 1 h of drought treatment, indicating that these four genes are more sensitive to drought stress. Under salt treatment, all CmoADHs showed a significant increase or decrease in expression within 6 h, except for CmoADH5 and CmoADH10, which were insensitive to salt treatment. The expression of most of the CmoADHs was significantly downregulated by low-temperature treatment. Ethephon treatment significantly induced the expression of all the CmoADHs, except CmoADH2, to different degrees within 12 h. CmoADH9 was found to be involved in root growth and drought stress resistance. Identification of these ADH genes can provide useful resources for conferring stress resistance in other economically important crops.

Characterization of Freeze-dried Pumpkin Powders: Powder Quality and Nutrient Stability

Being a good source of nutrients, viz., ascorbic acid, β-carotene, phenols, and antioxidants, pumpkin pulp (Cucurbita moschata) can be utilised as a functional ingredient in many food products by converting them into a more stable product like pumpkin powder. Hence the present study is focused on the production of freeze-dried pumpkin powder by two different methods (drying in petri plates with 5mm sample thickness and in 250 ml flask). The moisture content and water activity were reduced by 92.50% and 74.73%, respectively, compared to the fresh pumpkin pulp, indicating safe storage limits. Freeze-dried pumpkin powders exhibited a decrease of 25% ascorbic acid, 21.58% β-carotene, 39.39% reduction in total polyphenols and 72.98% in antioxidant content. The powder properties of the developed freeze-dried powders exhibited water activity of 0.4aw to 0.35aw bulk density of 0.15 to 0.12 g cm-3, and flow ability of 18.39° to 22.74°.

Physicochemical and Sensory Characteristics of Instant Pumpkin Soup with Variations of Porang Flour as a Thickener

Pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata) can be processed into instant soup. However, the weakness is its low viscosity. Porang flour as a thickening agent is expected to improve the shortcomings of instant pumpkin soup. This study aimed to investigate the effect of porang flour addition on the physical and sensory characteristics of instant pumpkin soup. This study used a non-factorial, completely randomized design, where the concentration of porang flour (0; 0.5; 1; 1.5 and 2%) was the independent variable. The result showed that the addition of porang flour caused an increase in moisture content, dietary fiber, viscosity, water solubility index and water absorption index in instant pumpkin soup. However, there was a decrease in the value of water activity, vitamin E, rehydration ratio, color, and sensory characteristics of instant pumpkin soup. In conclusion, adding 0.5% porang flour is recommended to produce instant pumpkin soup with good sensory and physicochemical properties.

Formulation of Nutraceutical Jelly Candy from a Combination of Cucurbita moschata Puree and Averrhoa carambola Juice as Antioxidant

Nutraceutical candy jellies are gaining popularity as a potential approach to deliver antioxidants in a palatable form. This study investigated the antioxidant activity of Cucurbita moschata puree combined with Averrhoa carambola juice, formulated into jelly candies. Design-Expert software V.13 was used to optimize the jelly candy base formula. The combined C. moschata puree and A. carambola juice exhibited strong antioxidant activity (IC50 = 29.580 ppm) at variation V1. The optimal base formula B3 consisted of 12% gelatin and 4% carrageenan. The formulated jelly candy possessed very strong antioxidant activity (IC50 = 44.771 ppm). These findings suggest the potential of C. moschata puree and A. carambola juice as ingredients in functional jelly candies.

Evaluation of antioxidant activity of selected wild fruits and vegetables from Zambia

Natural antioxidants present in herbs, spices, fruits, and vegetables can inhibit and prevent the deleterious effects of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and, hence are essential in the regulation of oxidative stress which is implicated as a precursor for several pathological conditions, including cardiovascular, neurodegenerative disorders, premature ageing and cancer including diabetes and hypertension. In this report, phytochemical screening of alkaloids, phenol/tannins, flavonoids, phyto-steroids, terpenoids, glycosides, saponins and the antioxidant activity of two traditional vegetables (Cucurbita moschata, CM and, Bidens pilosa, BP) and three edible wild fruits (Tamarindus indica, TI, Adansonia digitata, AD, and Kigelia africana, KA) commonly consumed in Zambia was investigated. Plant materials were macerated in either methanol or ethanol. Resultant crude extracts were analyzed for phytochemicals, total phenolic (TPC) and flavonoid content (TFC) respectively. Antioxidant activity (AA) was determined by the reduction of stable radicals 2,4,6-tripyridyl-s-triazine (TPTZ) in ferric ion-reducing antioxidant power assay (FRAP), 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl in the DPPH assay and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in the H2O2 radical scavenging assay, respectively. The TPC ranged from (0.53 ± 0.01 to 23.74 ± 0.02 mg GAE/g), and TFC ranged from (0.02 ± 0.00 to 15.03 ± 0.45 mg QE/g). Antioxidant activity with FRAP ranged from (3.59 ± 0.16 to 35.76 ± 0.33 mmol Fe (II)/g), % DPPH inhibition at 100 µg/mL of crude extract ranged from (25.53 ± 0.36 to 77.74 ± 0.48 µg/mL) and % H2O2 inhibition at 100 µg/mL of crude extract ranged from (24.70 ± 0.03 to 64.73 ± 0.02 µg/mL) respectively. For DPPH, the IC50 values of the ethanolic extracts of AD, KA, TI, BP and CM were 149.03, 199.21, 145.33, 35.24 and 172.09, while the methanolic extract values were 121.46, 127.80, 124.84, 35.78 and 65.88 µg/mL respectively. For H2O2, the IC50 values of the ethanolic extracts of AD, KA, TI, BP and CM were 151.34, 209.25, 118.033, 120.44 and 140.07, the methanolic values were 91.80, 158.18, 105.18, 102.21 and 50.26 µg/mL, respectively. The vegetables, BP and CM displayed higher TP/TF content and antioxidant activity than fruits. However, all the samples investigated in this study showed good antioxidant activity (correlation coefficient, R2 > 0.5) and their inclusion in a diet may offer protection from oxidative stress.

Kinetics of conductive hydro-drying of pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata) pulp

Pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata) samples were dehydrated by conductive hydro-drying (CHD) (1 atm, 80 °C), sliced and purées, both structures with thicknesses of 1.5, 3 and 6 mm. Drying kinetics were analyzed and the effective diffusivity (Def) was determined in both structures at the three thicknesses. Drying curves were fitted to ten kinetic models: Lewis, Henderson & Pabis, Logarithmic, Page, Wang & Singh, Page Modified, Midilli, Diffusion Approximation, Two-term Exponential and Verma. Def was determined by analytical solution of Fick's Second Law in rectangular coordinates by Crank's method. In general, the semi-empirical model that best fit showed was Midilli's model. However, the importance of phenomenological models such as the analytical solution of Fick's second law for process scaling and equipment design should be considered. These modeling results aid in predicting performance and fine-tuning hydrodrying processes for sustainable, high-quality food. Future applications may involve integrating these models into industrial-scale hydrodryers, reducing energy consumption and environmental impact.

Cloning and Direct Evolution of a Novel 7-O-Glycosyltransferase from Cucurbita moschata and Its Application in the Efficient Biocatalytic Synthesis of Luteolin-7-O-glucoside.

Luteolin-7-O-glucoside(L7G), a glycosylation product of luteolin, is present in a variety of foods, vegetables, and medicinal herbs and is commonly used in dietary supplements due to its health benefits. Meanwhile, luteolin-7-O-glucoside is an indicator component for the quality control of honeysuckle in the pharmacopoeia. However, its low content in plants has hindered its use in animal pharmacological studies and clinical practice. In this study, a novel 7-O-glycosyltransferase CmGT from Cucurbita moschata was cloned, which could efficiently convert luteolin into luteolin-7-O-glucoside under optimal conditions (40 °C and pH 8.5). To further improve the catalytic efficiency of CmGT, a 3D structure of CmGT was constructed, and directed evolution was performed. The mutant CmGT-S16A-T80W was obtained by using alanine scanning and iterative saturation mutagenesis. This mutant exhibited a kcat/Km value of 772 s-1·M-1, which was 3.16-fold of the wild-type enzyme CmGT. Finally, by introducing a soluble tag and UDPG synthesis pathway, the strain BXC was able to convert 1.25 g/L of luteolin into 1.91 g/L of luteolin-7-O-glucoside under optimal conditions, achieving a molar conversion rate of 96% and a space-time yield of 27.08 mg/L/h. This study provides an efficient method for the biosynthesis of luteolin-7-O-glucoside, which holds broad application prospects in the food and pharmaceutical industry.

The Effect of Pumpkin Seeds (Cucurbita moschata) on Uric Acid Level in Hyperuricemia Patients

Background: Hyperuricemia is a condition in which uric acid level exceeds normal threshold. The pumpkin seed extract contains flavonoids that can lower uric acid level. This study aims to analyze the effect of pumpkin seeds (Cucurbita moschata) capsules compared to allopurinol on uric acid level in hyperuricemia patients. Methods: This was an experimental research with a non-randomized control group pretest-posttest design. A total of 63 patients (32 intervention and 31 control) with hyperuricemia enrolled in this study through purposive sampling technique. The intervention group (IG) was given pumpkin seeds and control group (CG), allopurinol. Data were analyzed using paired and independent sample t-test. Results: The result of this study showed that uric acid level significantly decreased after the pumpkin seed capsule was provided (Mean changes=-0.33 mg,dl; P&lt;0.001). However, allopurinol played a greater role in lowering uric acid levels (Mean changes=-0.92 mg/dl; P&lt;0.001). The mean changes of uric acid between groups was also significant (P=0.039). In addition, some of the nutrition intakes showed a significant difference after the intervention. Conclusion: It can be concluded from the study that pumpkin seed capsules affected the decrease of uric acid level significantly, but the number was lower compared to allopurinol. In future studies, The dose of pumpkin seed should be considered.