Pumpkin Seed Research Articles

The Possible Protective Role of Crocin and Pumpkin Seed Oil against Lead-Induced Testicular Cytotoxicity in Adult Male Albino Rat.Hormonal, Histological and Immunohistochemical study.

The Possible Protective Role of Crocin and Pumpkin Seed Oil against Lead-Induced Testicular Cytotoxicity in Adult Male Albino Rat.Hormonal, Histological and Immunohistochemical study.

Изучение влияния комплексной растительной добавки на свойства мучных смесей и пшеничного теста

Food additives from non-traditional plant raw materials are a promising source of new fortified bakery products. However, they can affect the protein-starch structure of wheat flour and the rheological profile of the semi-finished bakery products, thus changing the quality of the finished product. The research objective was to study the effect of a novel plant food additive on the moisture, water absorption, and protein-proteinase complex of flour mixes and the rheological properties of wheat dough.
 The study featured flour mixes of top-grade wheat flour and the new food complex additive (10, 16, and 22%), as well as dough semi-finished products. The food complex additive consisted of whole grain wheat flour and powders of germinated spelt, pumpkin seeds, oyster mushrooms, and gooseberries in a ratio of 56.3:25.0:17.2:0.9:0.6, respectively. The moisture content was determined by the gravimetric method, while the water absorption and rheological properties were described using a Farinograph-AT. The content of wet gluten was measured by washing, the content of dry gluten was determined by drying, and the quality of gluten was tested according using an IDK-3M device.
 The additive decreased the water absorption and the dough development time, contributed to the gluten relaxation, and increased the amount and humidity of wet gluten. At 16 and 22% of the additive, the amount of dry gluten decreased by 3.4 and 4.0%, respectively; at 10%, it increased by 3.3%. The best stability, dough softening degree, and farinograph quality indicator were observed at 16%.
 The results can be used to produce new bakery products fortified with the new complex plant food additive, with the amount of water and kneading time adjusted for each particular case. Further research will feature the effect of the additive on the properties of dough semi-finished products during fermentation and proofing.

Risk of invasiveness of non-native fishes in the South Caucasus biodiversity and geopolitical hotspot

Aquatic invasions are one of the major threats for freshwater ecosystems. However, in developing countries, knowledge of biological invasions, essential for the implementation of appropriate legislation, is often limited if not entirely lacking. In this regard, the identification of potentially invasive non-native species by risk screening, followed by a full risk assessment of the species ranked as higher risk, enables decision-makers to be informed about the extent of the threats posed to the recipient (risk assessment) area. In this study, 32 non-native extant and horizon fish species were screened for their risk of invasiveness under current and predicted climate conditions for the South Caucasus – a biodiversity and geopolitical hotspot that includes the countries of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. Overall, the number of very high-risk species increased from four (12.5%) under current climate conditions to 12 (37.5%) under predicted climate conditions. The highest-risk species under both conditions included the already established gibel carp Carassius gibelio and topmouth gudgeon Pseudorasbora parva, the locally translocated pikeperch Sander lucioperca and the horizon North African catfish Clarias gariepinus. Under predicted climate conditions, a very high risk of invasiveness was predicted also for the translocated three-spined stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus and Eurasian perch Perca fluviatilis, for the already established eastern mosquitofish Gambusia holbrooki, ruffe Gymnocephalus cernua, sharpbelly Hemiculter leucisculus and Nile tilapia Orechromis niloticus, and for the horizon pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus and largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides. Future research on the non-native species in the South Caucasus should be conducted both country- and region-wide and should account not only for the high biodiversity, but also for the critical geopolitical situation affecting the study area.

Drying kinetics and sensory characteristics of dehydrated pumpkin seeds (Cucurbita moschata) obtained by refractance window drying

The current importance of pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata) in national food security has progressively encouraged research on this fruit. This is how pumpkin seeds constitute a potential raw material to obtain dehydrated products for direct consumption. In this research, we compared the drying kinetics, effective diffusivity (Def) and sensory perception in a non-trained panel of dehydrated pumpkin seeds through refractance window drying (RW) and convective air drying (CA). RW drying was carried out in a laboratory-scale hydro-dryer and CA drying was carried out in a dryer with hot air circulation; both at 80 ± 2 °C. Sensory acceptability (appearance, aroma, taste and texture) was evaluated by an affective test on a hedonic scale from 1 to 5 with 60 panelists. The drying curves (MR vs t) were fitted to four kinetic models: Newton, Logarithmic, Page and Midilli et al. Def was determined by the second Fick’s Law solution. The best model for RW drying was logarithmic, and Def was 6.60 × 10−10 m2/s (R2 = 0.9927); while for CA, it was Midilli et al., with the Def found through this method being 9.60 × 10−10 m2/s (R2 = 0.9928). Dry seeds by RW obtained a general acceptance of 3.82, compared to 3.63 by CA. Results allow us to conclude that among the drying methods evaluated, there is not statistically significant differences, in terms of dehydration characteristics and sensory acceptability, constituting RW drying as an alternative method for obtaining dehydrate pumpkins seeds for direct consumption.

A Comparative Study on the Nutritional, Antioxidant, Thermal, Morphological and Diffraction Properties of Selected Cucurbit Seeds

Cucurbit seeds are highly nutritious but generally discarded as a waste by various processing sectors. This study aims to investigate the nutritional profile of seeds of ash gourd, pumpkin, watermelon and musk melon. The techniques, such as mineral, vitamin, amino acid and fatty acid profiling, will provide the nutritional status of the selected seed samples, while the antinutritional accounts will assess the safety of the food application. The thermal behavior of the seeds will guide the decision of the food application of the selected seeds. These seeds were found to be rich in protein and fat, minerals, vitamins and amino acids. The antinutritional compounds in the studied seeds were within the safety limits. Ash gourd seeds had the highest antioxidant activity at 85.11%, with the highest values of total phenols at 176.07 mg GAE/100 g and flavonoids at 159.16 mg QE/100 g. The peaks of the functional group at 3008 cm−1, 1651 cm−1, 1528 cm−1 and 1233 cm−1 denote the presence of polyunsaturated fatty acids, and amide I, II and III, respectively. The thermal analysis of the seeds reviled that the seeds were thermally stable and could be used in product development. The surface morphology was attributed to the interaction of fat, protein and carbohydrates. The semicrystalline or amorphous nature of the seeds resulted in an A-type pattern in the XRD analysis. The results obtained here supports the food application of the selected seeds.

Effect of priming on germination traits and antioxidant enzymes of pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) seeds with different vigor under drought stress

In order to investigate the effect of priming on aspects of germination of aged pumpkin seeds under drought stress, a factorial experiment was conducted based on a completely randomized design with four replications in the laboratory. Treatments included of aging (control, 85% and 75% of control germination), drought stress (0, -0.75 and -1.5 MPa), and priming (control, hydro, gibberellin, GR24, benzyl aminopurine and spermidine). Results of mean comparison showed that the lowest germination percentage (43.6%), protein (0.82 mg.g-1Fw), radical length (RL, 9.24 mm), plumule length (PL, 1.19 mm), relative water content (RWC, 35.5%), carotenoid (1.253 mg.g-1Fw), catalase (CAT, 7.03 µmol.gmin-1.mgprotein-1), peroxidase (POX, 47.72 µmol.gmin-1.mgprotein-1) and superoxide dismutase activity (SOD, 53.48 mmol.gmin-1.mgprotein-1) were related to drought treatment with an intensity of -1.5 MPa and with 75% aging in the absence of priming. Also, the lowest content of malone dialdehyde (MDA, 3.75 mmol.g-1Fw) and proline (1.573 µg.g-1Fw) were obtained in the absence of drought and aging with priming by spermidine. The highest germination percentage (98.03%) and protein (9.54 mg.g-1Fw) were obtained in gibberellin treatment, RL (15.73 mm) and PL (4.26 mm) in priming with GR24 hormone, RWC (83.64%), carotenoid (6.277 mg.g-1Fw), CAT (40.44 µmol.gmin-1.mg protein-1), POX (95.71 µmol.gmin-1.mgprotein-1) and SOD activity (131.68 µmol.gmin-1.mg protein-1) in priming with spermidine with Non-drought stress and aging conditions. The highest MDA (32.42 mmol.g-1Fw) and proline (0.55 µg.g-1Fw) were observed in drought with an intensity of -1.5 MPa and 75% aging in the absence of priming.

Production of Hull-less Mutant of Pumpkin Seed under Different Abiotic Conditions

Pumpkin seeds are crucial for both human and animal nutrition. Furthermore, the importance of pumpkin seed oil, the snack seed trade and even the medicinal uses of pumpkin seed products have been taken into account for the attempts to improve oil pumpkin seed yield, seed quality and other parameters. The climatic conditions may have a considerable effect on both the vegetative and the reproductive growth as well, and can influence the quality and quantity of the yield. Large-scale field experiment was set up to investigate the climatic sensitivity of hull-less pumpkins. Three groups of fields in different regions of Eastern-Hungary; Southern, Northern and Middle regions were involved in this study. Monthly average temperature and precipitation and soil chemical characteristics were analyzed. Based on the results, the lowest yield was achieved in the Northern region, potentially because of the higher amount of precipitation during the vegetation period. The higher precipitation can possibly increase the sensitivity of pumpkin plants to diseases. The highest amount of the seeds was achieved in the Middle region, where the distribution of the rainfall was moderate. From the investigated soil parameters, the pH had a measurable effect on the final seed yield. It could be concluded that higher precipitation and lower pH can lower pumpkin seed yield. Maximum yield might rely on continuously monitoring the soil moisture status and on the irrigation scheduling management, in addition to the nutrient availability in the soil. Further studies, however, are necessary to prove these hypotheses and to provide more useful data.

Formation of Previously Undescribed Δ7-Phytosterol Oxidation Products and Tocopherylquinone Adducts in Pumpkin Seed Oil during Roasting, Screw-Pressing, and Simulated Culinary Processing at Elevated Temperatures.

The influence of pumpkin seed roasting conditions (110-140 °C) and screw-pressing on the formation of previously undescribed Δ7-phytosterol oxidation products and tocopherylquinone adducts with nucleophilic phosphatidylethanolamine species was investigated. The roasting process of pumpkin seed paste at a temperature above 120 °C for 30 min considerably enhanced the formation of Δ7-oxysterols. Targeted analysis [electron impact mass spectrometry (MS), 1D-nuclear magnetic resonance] led to the identification of five novel markers of pumpkin paste roasting, among which (3β,5α,22E,24S)-stigmasta-7,22-dien-6-one-3-ol (6-oxo-α-spinasterol), stereoisomers of (3β,5α,22E)-7,8-epoxystigmast-22-en-3-ol (7,8-epoxy-α-spinasterol), and (3β,5α)-22,23-epoxystigmast-7-en-3-ol (7,8-epoxy-α-spinasterol) were reported in edible oils for the first time. Simulated culinary processing provided novel stereoisomers of (3β,5α,22E)-stigmasta-7,22-dien-3,6-diol, unusual (3β,5α,22E)-stigmasta-7,22-dien-6,15-dione-3-ol, and (5α,22E)-stigmasta-7,22-dien-3-one accompanied by minor stereoisomers of (3β,5α)-7,8;22,23-diepoxystigmastan-3-ol. Moreover, a clear relationship between the pumpkin seed oil stability index and synergistic effect of glycerophospholipids with present tocochromanols was found. High-resolution atmospheric pressure chemical ionization-MS experiments clearly demonstrated the formation of various γ-tocopherylquinone adducts with primary amines, namely, octylamine. The mitigation strategy of potentially detrimental oxysterols from pumpkin seed oil included optimization of processing parameters while maintaining the formation of desirable sensory-active compounds.

Proximal and mineral composition analysis of castilla squash seeds (C. moschata), green pea (P. sativum) and green bean (P. vulgaris) for use in 4.0 Agribusiness

Objective: To determine the proximal and mineral composition analysis of of castilla squash seeds (C. moschata), green pea (P. sativum) and pinto saltillo green bean (P. vulgaris). Design/methodology/approach: The contents of macronutrients (carbohydrates, fats, crude fiber, protein, and ash) and micronutrients (minerals) of the evaluated species were determined using the AOAC standard procedures, and the quantification of minerals was performed by mass spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma. A variance analysis and means comparison were performed with Tukey’s test (α = 0.05). Results: The squash seeds with shells contain 291,500 ppm of protein, 417,000 ppm of fat, 66,700 ppm of carbohydrates, 134,000 ppm of crude fiber, 972,319.678 ppm of phosphorus, 3,380.09158 ppm of potassium and 3,183.2744 ppm of magnesium. The whole pea pod has 230,600 ppm of protein, 17,200 ppm of fat, 456,000 ppm of carbohydrates, 220,800 ppm of crude fiber, 5,438.18,991 ppm of phosphorus, 7,349.23753 ppm of potassium and 1,719.56882 ppm of magnesium. The whole green bean pods had a content of protein (185100 ppm), fat (2540 ppm), carbohydrates (377500 ppm), fiber (208000 ppm), phosphorus (6068.44661 ppm), potassium (15626.9991 ppm) and magnesium (17222.16567 ppm)). Study limitations/implications: Studies on the chemical characteristics of other agroindustrial residues should be carried out. Findings/conclusions: The foods analyzed have adequate characteristics to satisfy the demands with respect to some macronutrients and micronutrients. They can optimize the availability of nutrients in the generation of natural or synthetic foods that can change the future.

Medicinal and Biological Importance of Pumpkin Seeds and Its Impact on Weight

Aim: To evaluate the pharmacological effects of pumpkin seeds in correlation to weight gain in rabbits.
 Methodology: After observing as standard inclusion and exclusion criteria, thirty healthy adult rabbits recommended in study. Calculated amount 250 mg and 500 mg of powder of pumpkin seeds given. 1stanalysis denoted as day zero. Afterward more analysis were taken twice monthly for sixty days. The blood specimens passed immediately to the DR Lab by the side at the PUMHS Nawabshah. CBC analyzed using an automatic hemoglobin analyzer. Data were statistically evaluated in groups as mean by t-test and by SPSS version 21.0. A P value of 0.05 for all comparisons counted significant.
 Results: While comparing study groups with control, the mean Haemoglobin, RBCs and Platelets value at day zero were established as non-significant statistically. TLC and Weight means were significant statistically. A rising boost observed on further readings taken in all Hematological parameters. When compared with control, all the interpretation was highly significance statistically except weight which remains non-significant statistically.
 Conclusion: Pumpkin seeds can be replaced by ordinary method as a best plant food supply for improving hematological markers. It bears no any side effect of weight gain or patients non- cooperation like with medical therapy because of its high cost or side effects.

Evolutionary divergence in phenotypic plasticity shapes brain size variation between coexisting sunfish ecotypes.

Mechanisms that generate brain size variation and the consequences of such variation on ecological performance are poorly understood in most natural animal populations. We use a reciprocal-transplant common garden experiment and foraging performance trials to test for brain size plasticity and the functional consequences of brain size variation in Pumpkinseed sunfish (Lepomis gibbosus) ecotypes that have diverged between nearshore littoral and offshore pelagic lake habitats. Different age-classes of wild-caught juveniles from both habitats were exposed for 6 months to treatments that mimicked littoral and pelagic foraging. Plastic responses in oral jaw size suggested that treatments mimicked natural habitat-specific foraging conditions. Plastic brain size responses to foraging manipulations differed between ecotypes, as only pelagic sourced fish showed brain size plasticity. Only pelagic juveniles under 1year-old expressed this plastic response, suggesting that plastic brain size responses decline with age and so may be irreversible. Finally, larger brain size was associated with enhanced foraging performance on live benthic but not pelagic prey, providing the first experimental evidence of a relationship between brain size and prey-specific foraging performance in fishes. The recent post-glacial origin of these ecotypes suggests that brain size plasticity can rapidly evolve and diverge in fish under contrasting ecological conditions.

Determination of Total Phenolics, Flavonoids, Carotenoids, β-Carotene and DPPH Free Radical Scavenging Activity of Biscuits Developed with Different Replacement Levels of Pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima) Peel, Flesh and Seeds Powders

Pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima Lam.) is a well-known, extensively grown and consumed crop, world-wide. Pumpkins are natural and rich source of potential bioactive compounds. The presence of active phytochemicals makes these fruits a great matrix to be further exploited for therapeutic purposes, beyond biotechnological applications. Peel, flesh and seeds of this fruit are heavily loaded with phenolics, flavonoids and carotenoids, which are the main tributes of this functional and medicinal food. Present study was designed to utilize these parts of pumpkin in the form of powders, at 0, 5, 10 and 15% replacement levels with white flour, to develop biscuits and to obtain methanolic extracts of these biscuits to determine their phytochemical parameters. Among the different treatment biscuits, highest amount of total phenolics (101.79 mg GAE/100 g), flavonoids (60.74 mg CE/ 100 g) and DPPH free radical scavenging activity (38.00 mg AAE/100 g) was found in biscuits with 15% replacement of pumpkin seeds powder, while biscuits with 15% replacement of pumpkin flesh powder exhibited highest amount of total carotenoid contents (6.95 mg/ 100 g) and β carotene (2.86 mg/100 g). Functional biscuits developed from replacement of pumpkin parts powders with wheat flour may be offered to patients facing oxidative stress, degenerative diseases and diabetes. These biscuits can be offered to children for better growth and development. Consumers awareness through proper marketing at commercial level with proper labelling of nutritional facts, may lead to increased demand of this functional and medicinal food rich in bio actives.

Microwave and Roasting Impact on Pumpkin Seed Oil and Its Application in Full-Fat Mayonnaise Formula.

In this study, ‘Béjaoui’ Cucurbita maxima seeds variety were exposed to both microwave and roasting prior to oil cold press extraction. In addition, full-fat mayonnaise formula from untreated and treated pumpkin seed oils was prepared and assessed for their physical stabilities and bioactive properties in 28-day storage at 25 ± 1 °C. A mayonnaise sample prepared with unrefined sunflower seed oil served as a control. The results showed that the microwave pretreatment of seeds greatly enhanced the oxidative stability of the pumpkin seed oil, which increased from 3 h 46 min ± 10 min in the untreated sample to 4 h 32 min ± 14 min in the microwave cold press pumpkin seed oil. The sterol content increased from 4735 ± 236.75 mg/kg oil in the untreated cold press pumpkin seed oil to 5989 ± 299.45 mg/kg oil and 7156 ± 357.8 mg/kg in the microwave cold press pumpkin seed oil and the roasted cold press pumpkin seed oil, respectively. The mayonnaise prepared with microwave cold press pumpkin seed oil exhibited the lowest creaming index and was more stable to droplet growth when compared to the other mayonnaise samples. All mayonnaise samples prepared with pumpkin seed oils exhibited higher total phenolic contents and antioxidant activities during storage when compared to the mayonnaise sample prepared with unrefined sunflower seed oil. Among pumpkin seed oil mayonnaise samples, the highest values were, however, observed in the one prepared with microwave cold press pumpkin seed oil. Thanks to its high nutraceuticals, the latter could be confidently regarded as a natural fat substitute for commercial stable vegetable oils mayonnaise type emulsions.

Fluted pumpkin seeds protect the spermatogenesis score index and testicular histology of caffeine treated rats.

The present study was designed to evaluate the protective effect of fluted pumpkin seeds (FPS) against caffeine (CAFF) induced testicular toxicity in rats. Thirty young healthy male Wistar rats (196 ± 12 g) were randomly organized into five sets of six animals per each group: control, caffeine (CAFF; 50 mg kg-1 bw) and FPS co-treatment groups (CAFF + 50 mg FPS, CAFF + 100 mg FPS and CAFF + 200 mg FPS kg-1 bw). CAFF and FPS were administered daily and twice per week respectively by oral gavage for 40 days. CAFF treatment decreased testicular lactate dehydrogenase enzyme activity level, which was attenuated on co-administration with FPS at 50 and 100 mg kg-1 bw. Furthermore, CAFF decreased seminiferous epithelia thickness and spermatogenesis score index and increased the number of tubules with abnormal histological features, which were attenuated on co-administration with FPS at 50 mg kg-1 bw much more than at the higher doses (p < 0.05). CAFF did not affect malondialdehyde and glutathione concentrations and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in the testes whereas FPS co-treatment at the higher doses elevated glutathione level and GSH-Px activity and did not affect spermatogenesis score index at the highest dose (200 mg kg-1 bw). Testicular malondialdehyde concentrations remained unaffected in all FPS co-treatment groups. Overall, FPS is able to minimize the CAFF-induced testicular injury at lower than at the higher tested doses.

The advantages of co-digestion of vegetable oil industry by-products and sewage sludge: Biogas production potential, kinetic analysis and digestate valorisation.

The production of edible vegetable oils generates considerable amounts of energy-rich waste, which is usually not utilised fully. Besides, inefficient management of such wastes can have a negative impact on the environment. On the other hand, this waste can also serve as a raw material for the production of high value-added products, such is biogas. The mono-digestion of seven different by-products and wastes from the vegetable oil industry was investigated in this study: Pumpkin seeds press cake (PSPC), grape seeds press cake (GSPC), olive mill pomace (OMP), coconut oil cake (CC), filtration additive (FA), spent bleaching earth (SBE) and sludge from a vegetable oil industry (SOI) wastewater treatment plant. In addition, co-digestion of these substrates was performed with municipal sewage sludge (SS). Besides inoculum, rumen fluid was added to the reactors to enhance biogas production. The biogas production potential of the tested substrates was monitored by measuring various parameters. A kinetic analysis was later carried out and a growth test was performed on the digestates to evaluate their potential for agricultural use. The highest biogas yields in the mono-digestion test were obtained with the substrates with the highest fat content: 1402, 1288, 830 and 750mL of biogas/gVS for SOI, FA, PSPC and CC substrate, respectively. Co-digestion of SS with by-products of vegetable oil industry such as FA, SBE, CC, SOI and PSPC increased the biogas yields by 94.9%, 74.1%, 30.8%, 27.4% and 23.6% compared to SS mono-digestion. Furthermore, the data for mono-digestion of PSPC, GSPC, and FA, and co-digestion of SS with these substrates, CC and SBE, have not been found in the literature to date. The maximum methane content ranged from 61 to 74vol%, while the chemical oxygen demand removal efficiency ranged from 42 to 78%. Relatively high fatty acids contents and ammonium concentrations were measured in the reactors. Kinetic analysis showed the best fit to the experimental data for the Cone kinetic model (R2>0.98). The First order kinetic model, Monod, and the modified Gompertz model also exhibited high R2 values. The digestates obtained from co-digestion proved to be excellent in the cress seeds growth test at digestate concentrations of 5-10wt%, while higher concentrations had a toxic effect.

The Influence of Giving Biscuits of Yellow Pumpkin Seed and Capsule of Moringa Leaves on the Level of C-Reactive Protein on Pregnant Women

Pregnant women are likely to have the option of receiving supplementary nourishment in the form of pumpkin seed biscuits and Moringa leaves. The purpose of this study is to see how Pumpkin Seed Biscuits and Moringa Leaf Capsules affect C-Reactive Protein (C-RP) levels in pregnant women at the Stunting Locus, Bone Regency. A Quasi-Experimental method, also known as a field trial. The Non-Randomized Pre-Test - Post Test Group Design was adopted for the research design. Participants in this study were separated into two groups: group I was given pumpkin seed biscuits and a blood-added tablet, and group II was given Moringa leaf extract capsule supplements and a blood-added tablet, with a total of 30 persons in each group. The intervention lasted 90 days and included both a pre-test and a post-test. The levels of C-Reactive Protein in group I (Pumpkin Seed Biscuits) decreased by -0.11±0.04 g/mL. The decrease in C-Reactive Protein levels in group II (Moringa Leaf Extract) was -0.09±0.04 g/mL. Moringa capsules (p=0.001) and pumpkin seed biscuits (p=0.001) had an impact on reducing C-RP levels in pregnant women. Supplemental feeding of pumpkin seed biscuits and Moringa leaf extract capsules can enhance and improve the health condition of pregnant women by lowering C-Reactive Protein levels.

Perfil cromatográfico diferencial de triglicéridos en semillas de calabazas (Cucurbita spp.) silvestres y domesticadas

Introduction: Triglycerides (TG) represent 98 % of the vegetable oils composition. The evaluation of TG in pumpkin seed extracts is valuable to perceive effects caused by domestication. Objective: To compare the triglyceride profile of wild versus domesticated pumpkins by reversed-phase HPTLC. Materials and methods: Wild pumpkins (Cucurbita foetidissima Kunth and C. radicans Naudin) seeds were collected at mature stage at three sites of the Mexican Plateau and seeds of domesticated pumpkins (C. pepo L., C. moschata Duchesne, C. argyrosperma K. Koch) and sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) were acquired. Ground seeds were Soxhlet extracted with hexane to obtain the lipids. From the neutral lipid extract, TG were separated on 20 x 10 HPTLC Silica Gel 60 glass plates. Unsaturated TG were used as reference. The bands, in different tracks, were analyzed with the free-to-use GelAnalyzer software. Results and discussion: The TG profile of both wild and domesticated pumpkin seed extract shows similarity among their most abundant bands. In both samples, TG 18:2/18:2/18:2 predominates. In wild pumpkins, TG 18:3/18:3/18:3 bands stand out. Domesticated pumpkins have lower TG with higher unsaturation chain, than wild species, which gives them a greater nutritional value. Conclusions: Wild pumpkin seeds show a characteristic profile of unsaturated TG. Chromatographic profiling and image analysis with GelAnalyzer led to the sample’s differentiation based on the bands found.

Estimation of Moisture and Protein Content in Pumpkin Seeds Using NIRS with Partial Least Square (PLS) Method

Most people do not use pumpkin seeds and only fruit for food production. Meanwhile, pumpkin seeds contain antioxidants, protein, carbohydrates, and other vitamins. Measurement of the chemical content of a material is usually carried out destructively (conventional methods) in the laboratory. This method is expensive, takes a long time to repair samples, and creates chemical waste. One method that is currently being developed to detect the chemical content of a material is the near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) method. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a non-destructive method used to quickly analyze and obtain information on a material's chemical content without using chemicals. The NIRS data calibration technique using partial least squares (PLS) is a step carried out to build a model that relates the response spectra of each sample at each wavelength to chemical concentrations known from laboratory analysis and protein content in pumpkin seeds with NIRS using PLS calibration. Spectrum data pre-treatment was carried out with GapDerivarive and Derivative Savitzky-Golay. The results showed that the best calibration model for moisture and protein content was obtained using DerivativeGap data processing with values of r = 0.92, R2 = 0.84, SEC = 0.11%, and RMSEC = 0.11%. RPD = 2.66 and using Latent Variable (LV) factor 2, while for protein content r = 0.95, R2 = 0.89, SEC = 0.71%, and RMSEC = 0.70%. RPD value = 3.33 and using Latent Variable (LV) factor 3.

A New Species of Bothriocephalus (Cestoda: Bothriocephalidae) from Lepomis spp. (Actinopterygii: Centrarchidae) in North America

Based on morphological and molecular data, a new species of tapeworm, Bothriocephalus kupermani n. sp., is described from pumpkinseed, Lepomis gibbosus (Linnaeus, 1758) (type host), and green sunfish, L. cyanellus Rafinesque, 1819 (Actinopterygii: Centrarchidae) in the United States. The new species differs from its North American congeners mainly in the shape of its scolex, which is almost rectangular in dorsoventral and lateral views (nearly parallel margins in the bothrial region), with shallow, wide bothria, and by an extensive field of vitelline follicles that are also variably present, albeit more sparsely, medially in the cortex of the ovarian and uterine areas. This tapeworm appears to be typically associated with Lepomis sunfishes. Examination of museum specimens of Bothriocephalus species from Lepomis spp. indicates that the tapeworm also parasitizes bluegill, Lepomis macrochirus, longear sunfish, Lepomis megalotis, and that previous records of Bothriocephalus cuspidatus and Bothriocephalus claviceps in these fishes are of the new species, B. kupermani.

Biosynthesis of ZnO NPs from pumpkin seeds’ extract and elucidation of its anticancer potential against breast cancer

Abstract The cost-effective and environmental friendly biosynthesis of metal nanoparticles is becoming increasingly important in biomedical science. This study biosynthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) from pumpkin seed extract and assessed its anticancer activity by using different molecular biology experiments in human breast cancer (MDA-MB-231) cell lines. The well-known analytical techniques, such as UV-visible spectrophotometry, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), were used to confirm the synthesis and characterize the morphological and structural features of biogenic ZnO NPs. The formation of spherical nanoparticles with an average size of 50–60 nm was recorded using scanning electron microscopy and TEM. We observed the dose-dependent increase in cytotoxicity of ZnO NPs in the MDA-MB-231 cell line with a 50% inhibitory concentration of 10 µg/mL. Moreover, the ZnO NPs also showed significant cell morphology changes, apoptosis induction, and reactive oxygen species production at the highest tested concentration. The cellular adhesion and migration assay indicated cell death and inhibition in the migration of breast cancer cells in response to ZnO NPs’ treatment. These results clearly demonstrated the significant anticancer potential of ZnO NPs against the studied breast cancer cell line. However, an extension of this study is recommended in different cancer models and, based on the results, in vivo validation should be done.