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Oil from pumpkin seeds


Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) is an annual climber and is in flower from July to September, and the seeds ripen from August

to October [1]. Pumpkin seeds oil is an extraordinarily rich source of diverse bioactive compounds having functional

properties used as edible oil or as a potential nutraceutical. In recent years, several studies have highlighted the medical

properties of pumpkin seed oil which is known as strongly dichromatic viscous oil [2]. Researchers have so far focused

particularly on the composition and content of fatty acids, tocopherols and sterols in pumpkin seed oil because of their

positive health effects [3–5]. Moreover, pumpkin has gained attention as an exceptional protective against many diseases, e.

g. hypertension and carcinogenic diseases [6, 7]; due to its health benefits such as antidiabetic [8], antibacterial [9],

antioxidant and anti-inflammation [4]. The determination of the biochemical and oxidative stability properties of

raw material pumpkin seeds oil would contribute to the

valorization of such oil especially in pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries.






Although much progress has been reached in the domain of modern medicine, we still notice the lack of efficient wounds

healing treatments. The demand for natural remedies is rising in developing countries [10] as natural substances may be

effective, safe and cheap [11]. Basic research has improved our understanding of enhancement and inhibition of wound healing

and has given the basis for introduction of novel treatment methods [12].






In this respect, the proprieties of Cucurbita pepo L. extracted oil have captured our interest. Despite all the

proprieties of the pumpkin oil, and to the best of our knowledge, there is no investigation of this oil in wound healing

potential. To this end, the current study aims to identify some physico-chemical aspects of the bioactive components of

snow white pumpkin seeds oil as well

as to highlight its hemostatic and healing potential effects on wound.






The pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) var. Bejaoui seeds were harvested in region of Sidi Bouzid (Centre of Tunisia). The seeds

were authenticated at the National Botanical Research Institute Tunisia (INRAT) and the voucher sample was deposited at

INRAT. The fixed oil was extracted by the first cold pressure from seeds using a mechanical oil press (SMIR, MUV1 65).

However, “Cicaflora cream?” a repairing emulsion with 10 % of Mimosa Tenuiflora, was served as a reference drug from the

local pharmacy. The remaining chemicals used were of analytical grade.






The present study aimed to examine the effect of pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) seeds supplementation on atherogenic diet-

induced atherosclerosis. Rat were divided into two main groups , normal control and atherogenic control rats , each group

composed of three subgroups one of them supplemented with 2% arginine in drinking water and the other supplemented with

pumpkin seeds in diet at a concentration equivalent to 2% arginine. Supplementation continued for 37 days. Atherogenic rats

supplemented with pumpkin seeds showed a significant decrease (p