International Journal of Food Studies
Sign in
Issue image

More articles from Volume 4, Issue 2, 2015

Simple and double microencapsulation of Lactobacillus acidophilus with chitosan using spray drying

In vitro health beneficial activities of Pumpkin seeds from Cucurbita moschata cultivated in Lemnos

Teaching microbiological food safety through case studies

Identifying most important skills for PhD students in Food Science and Technology: a comparison between industry and academic stakeholders

Information literacy training in AgroParisTech food studies

Citations

Crossref Logo

8

Crossref Logo

Sarah Jane Monica, Sheila John, R. Madhanagopal, C. Sivaraj, Ameer Khusro, P. Arumugam, Márió Gajdács, D. Esther Lydia, Muhammad Umar Khayam Sahibzada, Saad Alghamdi, Mazen Almehmadi, Talha Bin Emran

(2022)

Chemical composition of pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima) seeds and its supplemental effect on Indian women with metabolic syndrome

Arabian Journal of Chemistry, 15(8)

10.1016/j.arabjc.2022.103985
Crossref Logo

Eleni-Anna Argyri, Stylianos-Panagiotis Piromalis, Antonios Koutelidakis, Dimitrios Kafetzopoulos, Andreas S. Petsas, Dimitrios Skalkos, Constantina Nasopoulou, Charalampia Dimou, Haralabos C. Karantonis

(2021)

Olive Paste-Enriched Cookies Exert Increased Antioxidant Activities

Applied Sciences, 11(12)

10.3390/app11125515
Crossref Logo

Konstantina Thanou, Archontia Kapsi, Andreas S. Petsas, Charalampia Dimou, Antonios Koutelidakis, Constantina Nasopoulou, Dimitris Skalkos, Haralabos C. Karantonis

(2022)

Ultrasound‐assisted extraction of Texas variety almond oil and in vitro evaluation of its health beneficial bioactivities

Journal of Food Processing and Preservation, 46(10)

10.1111/jfpp.16144
Crossref Logo

Aleena Elezabeth Shajan, Kshirod Kumar Dash, Hamid, Omar Bashir, Rafeeya Shams

(2024)

Comprehensive comparative insights on physico-chemical characteristics, bioactive components, and therapeutic potential of pumpkin fruit

Future Foods, 9()

10.1016/j.fufo.2024.100312
Crossref Logo

Bahare Salehi, Cristina Quispe, Javad Sharifi‐Rad, Lalit Giri, Renu Suyal, Arun K. Jugran, Paolo Zucca, Antonio Rescigno, Stefania Peddio, Otilia Bobiş, Adela Ramona Moise, Gerardo Leyva‐Gómez, María L. Del Prado‐Audelo, Hernán Cortes, Marcello Iriti, Miquel Martorell, Natália Cruz‐Martins, Manoj Kumar, Wissam Zam

(2021)

Antioxidant potential of family Cucurbitaceae with special emphasis on Cucurbita genus: A key to alleviate oxidative stress‐mediated disorders

Phytotherapy Research, 35(7)

10.1002/ptr.7045
Crossref Logo

Olga Papagianni, Iraklis Moulas, Thomas Loukas, Athanasios Magkoutis, Dimitrios Skalkos, Dimitrios Kafetzopoulos, Charalampia Dimou, Haralabos C. Karantonis, Antonios E. Koutelidakis

(2021)

Trends in Food Innovation: An Interventional Study on the Benefits of Consuming Novel Functional Cookies Enriched with Olive Paste

Sustainability, 13(20)

10.3390/su132011472
Crossref Logo

Jonatan Jafet Uuh Narvaez, Ulil Us Medina, Maira Rubi Segura Campos

(2024)

“Sikil pa'ak”: A proposed food from the Mayan biocultural cuisine for the prevention of metabolic syndrome

International Journal of Gastronomy and Food Science, 37()

10.1016/j.ijgfs.2024.100981
Crossref Logo

Rishabha Malviya, Akanksha Sharma

(2021)

Therapeutic Potential and Pharmaceutical Applications of Cucurbita

Current Nutrition & Food Science, 17(4)

10.2174/1573401316999200819131300

In vitro health beneficial activities of Pumpkin seeds from Cucurbita moschata cultivated in Lemnos

Danai Sakka ,
Danai Sakka

Department of Food Science and Nutrition, School of the Environment, University of the Aegean , Mytilene , Greece

View authors publications

Search this author on:

PubMed | Google Scholar
HARALABOS KARANTONIS
HARALABOS KARANTONIS
Contact HARALABOS KARANTONIS

Department of Food Science and Nutrition, School of the Environment, University of the Aegean , Mytilene , Greece

View authors publications

Search this author on:

PubMed | Google Scholar

Published: 18.10.2015.

Volume 4, Issue 2 (2015)

pp. 221-237;

https://doi.org/10.7455/ijfs/4.2.2015.a10

Abstract

Pumpkin seeds are commonly consumed in Greece. Although Cucurbita moschata is locally grown in Lemnos and is traditionally used in pumpkin pies, the seeds are currently discarded after consumption of the fruit flesh. The aim of the present study was to investigate the nutritional functionality of pumpkin seeds from Cucurbita moschata grown in Lemnos. Cucurbita moschatas’ seeds, raw or roasted, were appropriately extracted and the results are presented for raw versus (vs) roasted seed extracts. The phenolic content was expressed as µg gallic acid/g of seeds according to Folin-Ciocalteau assay (370.3 ± 19.1 vs 551.0 ± 22.0). Antioxidant capacity was expressed as equivalent amount for 50% scavenging in mg of seeds for DPPH (50.03 ± 5.91 vs 25.82 ± 6.77) and ABTS (17.85 ± 0.77 vs 12.77 ± 0.76) assays, and as µmol of trolox/g of seeds for FRAP (1.19 ± 0.05 vs 2.50 ± 0.23) and CUPRAC (2.13 ±0.11 vs 3.25 ± 0.06) assays. Antiinflammatory/antithrombotic and anti-diabetic activities were expressed as mg of seeds for 50% inhibition of platelet activating factor (0.62 vs 0.15) and as µg of seeds for 25% inhibition of alpha-glycosidase (40.0 vs 61.0) activities respectively. Moreover, anti-atherogenic activity was expressed as the % increase in lag time of human plasma oxidation (62.7 versus 163.2) Raw and roasted pumpkin seed extracts exert anti-oxidant, anti-thrombotic/anti-inflammatory, antiatherogenic and antidiabetic activities. Cucurbita moschata seeds may represent a novel opportunity for development of functional foods, with a local interest in Lemnos that would contribute also to the regional public health improvement. 

Keywords

Pumpkin seeds,

Cucurbita moschata,

Functional foods,

In vitro nutritive value

References

1.
Nomikos T, Karantonis H, Skarvelis C, Demopoulos C, Zabetakis I. Antiatherogenic properties of lipid fractions of raw and fried fish. Food Chemistry. 2006;(1):29–35.
2.
Karantonis H, Tsantila N, Stamatakis G, Samiotaki M, Panayotou G, Antonopoulou S, et al. Bioactive polar lipids in olive oil, pomace and waste byproducts. Journal of Food Biochemistry. 2008;(4):443–59.
3.
Karten B, Beisiegel U, Gercken G, Kontush A. Mechanisms of lipid peroxidation in human blood plasma: a kinetic approach. Chemistry and Physics of Lipids. 1997;(2):83–96.
4.
Koike K, Li W, Liu L, Hata E, Nikaido T. New phenolic glycosides from the seeds of cucurbita moschata. Chemical and Pharmaceutical Bulletin. 2005;(2):225–8.
5.
Krentz A, Bailey C. Oral antidiabetic agents -current role in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Drugs. 2005;(3):385–411.
6.
Li FS, Dou DQ, Xu L, Chi XF, Kang TG, Kuang HX. New phenolic glycosides from the seeds of cucurbita moschata. Journal of Asian Natural Products Research. 2009;(7):639–42.
7.
Libby P. Conference on Living Well to 100 -Is Inflammation Central to Aging. Nutrition Reviews. 2007;(2):140-S146.
8.
Lin SD, Wang JS, Hsu SR, Sheu W, Tu -H, Lee ST, et al. The beneficial effect of alphaglucosidase inhibitor on glucose variability compared with sulfonylurea in taiwanese type 2 diabetic patients inadequately controlled with metformin: preliminary data. Journal of Diabetes and its Complications. 2011;(5):332–8.
9.
Merrick L. Cucurbita argyrosperma, and its wild and weedy relatives. 1990;77–95.
10.
Naelsen C, Basu S, Wolk A, Vessby B. The importance of dietary antioxidants on plasma antioxidant capacity and lipid peroxidation in vivo in middle-aged men. Scandinavian Journal of Food and Nutrition. 2006;(2).
11.
Nasopoulou C, Karantonis H, Detopoulou M, Demopoulos C, Zabetakis I. Exploiting the anti-inflammatory properties of olive (olea europaea) in the sustainable production of functional food and neutraceuticals. Phytochemistry Reviews. 2014;(2):445–58.
12.
Karantonis H, Fragopoulou E, Antonopoulou S, Rementzis J, Phenekos C, Demopoulos C. Effect of fast-food mediterraneantype diet on type 2 diabetics and healthy human subjects platelet aggregation. Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice. 2006;(1):33–41.
13.
Nomikos T, Fragopoulou E, Antonopoulou S. Food ingredients and lipid mediators. Current Nutrition and Food Science. 2007;(4):255–76.
14.
Oboh G, Ademosun A, Re R, Pellegrini N, Proteggente A, Pannala A, et al. Shaddock peels (citrus maxima) phenolic extracts inhibit alpha-amylase, alpha-glucosidase and angiotensin i-converting enzyme activities: a nutraceutical approach to diabetes management. Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Research & Reviews. 2011;(3):1231–7.
15.
Rondina M, Weyrich A, Zimmerman G. Platelets as cellular effectors of inflammation in vascular diseases. Circulation Research. 2013;(11):1506–19.
16.
Sabate J, Ros E, Salas-Salvado J. Nuts: nutrition and health outcomes. British Journal of Nutrition. 2006;(1, 2):1-S2.
17.
Schnitzer E, Pinchuk I, Bor A, Fainaru M, Samuni A, Lichtenberg D. Lipid oxidation in unfractionated serum and plasma. Chemistry and Physics of Lipids. 1998;(2):151–70.
18.
Singleton V, Rossi J. Colorimetry of total phenolics with phosphomolybdic-phosphotungstic acid reagents. American journal of Enology and Viticulture. 1965;(3):144–58.
19.
Soong Y, Barlow P. Antioxidant activity and phenolic content of selected fruit seeds. Food Chemistry. 2004;(3):411–7.
20.
Vinholes J, Grosso C, Andrade P, Gil-Izquierdo A, Valentao P, De Pinho P, et al. In vitro studies to assess the antidiabetic, anti-cholinesterase and antioxidant potential of spergularia rubra. Food Chemistry. 2011;(2):454–62.
21.
Xanthopoulou M, Fragopoulou E, Kalathara K, Nomikos T, Karantonis H, Antonopoulou S. Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of red and white wine extracts. Food Chemistry. 2010;(3):665–72.
22.
Yen G, Duh P, Tsai C. Relationship between antioxidant activity and maturity of peanut hulls. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 1993;(1):67–70.
23.
Fragopoulou E, Demopoulos C, Antonopoulou S. Lipid minor constituents in wines. a biochemical approach in the french paradox. International Journal of Wine Research. 2009;131–43.
24.
Apak R, Guclu K, Ozyurek M, Karademir S. Novel total antioxidant capacity index for dietary polyphenols and vitamins c and e, using their cupric ion reducing capability in the presence of neocuproine: cuprac method. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 2004;(26):7970–81.
25.
Arzamastseva N, Lankin V, Konovalova G, Tikhaze A, Ageev F, Lapina V, et al. Oxidative stress in patients with chronic heart failure and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine. 2007;(2):207–9.
26.
Balagopal P. Obesity-related cardiovascular risk in children and the role of lifestyle changes. Journal of the cardiometabolic syndrome. 2006;(4):269–76.
27.
Benzie I, Strain J. The ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) as a measure of ''antioxidant power": the FRAP assay. Analytical Biochemistry. 1996;(1):70–6.
28.
Bischoff H. Workshop on Alpha-Glucosidase Inhibitors in Diabetes, at the 27th Meeting of the European-Society-of-Clinical-Investigation. European Journal of Clinical Investigation. 1994;(3):3–10.
29.
Bligh E, Dyer W. A rapid method of total lipid extraction and purification. Canadian Journal Of Biochemistry and Physiology. 1959;(8):911–7.
30.
Bourne M, Caili F, Huan S, Quanhong L. Food texture and viscosity: concept and measurement. (Chap. Texture, Viscosity and Food. Plant Foods For Human Nutrition. 2002;(2):73–80.
31.
Del Rio D, Rodriguez-Mateos A, Spencer J, Tognolini M, Borges G, Crozier A. Dietary (poly)phenolics in human health: structures, bioavail-ability, and evidence of protective effects against chronic diseases. Antioxidants & Redox Signaling. 2013;(14):1818–92.
32.
Demopoulos C, Karantonis H, Antonopoulou S. Platelet activating factor -a molecular link between atherosclerosis theories. European Journal of Lipid Science and Technology. 2003;(11):705–16.
33.
Demopoulos C, Pinckard R, Hanahan D. Platelet-activating factor -evidence for 1-o-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glyceryl-3phosphorylcholine as the active component (a new class of lipid chemical mediators). Journal of Biological Chemistry. 1979;(19):9355–8.
34.
Abe N, Murata T, Hirota A. Novel oxidized sorbicillin dimers with 1,1diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl-radical scavenging activity from a fungus. Bioscience Biotechnology and Biochemistry. 1998;(11):2120–6.
35.
Fuentes Q, Fuentes Q, Andres V, Pello O, Font De Mora J, Palomo G, et al. Role of platelets as mediators that link inflammation and thrombosis in atherosclerosis. Platelets. 2013;(4):255–62.
36.
Gawaz M, Langer H, May A. Platelets in inflammation and atherogenesis. Journal of Clinical Investigation. 2005;(12):3378–84.
37.
Giacco F, Brownlee M. Oxidative stress and diabetic complications. Circulation research. 2010;(9):1058–70.
38.
Holt E, Steffen L, Moran A, Basu S, Steinberger J, Ross J, et al. Fruit and vegetable consumption and its relation to markers of inflammation and oxidative stress in adolescents. Journal of the American Dietetic Association. 2009;(3):414–21.
39.
Jiang Z, Du Q. Glucose-lowering activity of novel tetrasaccharide glyceroglycolipids from the fruits of cucurbita moschata. Bioorganic & Medicinal Chem-istry Letters. 2011;(3):1001–3.
40.
Kadam P, Patil M. Supplement. Pharmacognosy Journal. 2014;4–6.
41.
Kadam P, Yadav K, Patel A, Navsare V, Bhilwade S, Patil M. Phytopharmacopoeial specifications of garcinia indica fruit rinds. Pharmacognosy Journal. 2012;(31):23–8.
42.
Kampoli AM, Tousoulis D, Antoniades C, Siasos G, Stefanadis C. Biomarkers of premature atherosclerosis. Trends in Molecular Medicine. 2009;(7):323–32.
43.
Karantonis H, Antonopoulou S, Demopoulos C. Antithrombotic lipid minor constituents from vegetable oils. comparison between olive oils and others. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 2002;(5):1150–60.

Citation

Copyright

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Article metrics

Google scholar: See link

The statements, opinions and data contained in the journal are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publisher and the editor(s). We stay neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Most read articles

Indexed by
Scopus
DOAJ
Sherpa-Romero
Google Scholar
Crossref