Microwave- and Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction of Cucurbita pepo Seeds: A Comparison Study of Antioxidant Activity, Phenolic Profile, and In-Vitro Cells Effects

Nowadays there is a growing demand for nutraceuticals to prevent diseases related redox imbalances, such as atherosclerosis and diabetes, being crucial search new matrixes rich in bioactive compounds. This work aims characterize the value-added compounds extracted from Curcubita pepo seeds using green methodologies, namely microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) ultrasound-assisted (UAE), employing water an extracting solvent two ratios (condition 1: 1 mg/20 mL; condition 2: 2.5 mL). The extract with best antioxidant/antiradical activity FRAP (71.09 μmol FSE/g DW) DPPH (5.08 mg TE/g assays was MAE 1, while 2 exhibited highest ABTS assay (13.29 AAE/g TPC (16.89 GAE/g DW). A remarkable scavenging capacity observed, particularly HOCl, IC50 values ranging 1.88–13.50 μg/mL. total of 21 phenolic were identified, catechin (4.567–7.354 mg/g DW), caffeine (1.147–2.401 gallic acid (0.945–1.337 predominant. No adverse effects observed on Caco-2 viability after exposure extracts, other conditions led slight decrease NSC-34. These results highlighted that most promising potential nutraceutical ingredient.