INTRODUCTION The aims of this study were to determine the proximate composition, functional properties and antioxidant activity of pumpkin seeds and rind. Besides, the effects of dietary fibre in pumpkin seeds and rinds on bread qualities and properties were evaluated. METHODS Formulations for bread substituted with 0%, 5% and 10% pumpkin seed and rind, respectively were produced. Sensory eva...

This study examined the use of hot-air drying in the preparation of pumpkin powder. The drying temperature was varied (50, 60 and 70°C) to determine the effect of temperature on physicochemical properties, powder properties and sorption characteristics of pumpkin powders. The results showed that a drying temperature of 70°C removes moisture from pumpkin slices faster than the lower drying tempe...

The properties of starches isolated from two squash cultivars (Cucurbita maxima) were studied and compared with those of two pumpkin cultivars (Cucurbita moschata) and one normal potato cultivar. The amylose content of pumpkin and squash starches ranged from 16.18% to 21.29%. The pumpkin and squash starches appeared as a mixture of spherical, polyhedral and dome shaped granules. The pumpkin and...

The effects of some coumarins (coumarin, 7-hydroxycoumarin, scopoletin and esculetin) were investigated on pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima Duch.) seedlings and on pumpkin glutathione S-transferases (GSTs). Coumarin and esculetin suppressed the growth of seedlings, especially the elongation of roots as well as hypocotyls. Among the compounds tested, only esculetin inhibited the activity of a particula...

Pollinators provide an important service in many crops. Managed honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) are used to supplement pollination services provided by wild bees with the assumption that they will enhance pollination, fruit set and crop yield beyond the levels provided by the wild bees. Recent declines in managed honey bee populations have stimulated interest in finding alternative managed polli...

Pumpkin seed oil has long been considered as an ingredient for its nutritional and medicinal values for the prevention of various ailments, especially for prostate diseases. In addition, several studies have suggested the crucial roles and effectiveness of pumpkin seed oil in the treatment of diabetes, anxiety and even cancer. Pumpkin seed oil is being used in several countries worldwide includ...

In this study, a new application of pumpkin pulp in bread production is shown. The aim of this work is to determine the influence of the addition of fresh pumpkin pulp directly into wheat flour on physical, sensorial and biological properties of bread. The bioaccessibility of active compounds was also studied. An increase in the addition of pumpkin pulp from 5 to 20% (converted to dry matter) c...

Vitamin A deficiency is a health problem in Southeast Asia that can be corrected by feeding orange fruits and vegetables such as mango. Pumpkin is a traditional Korean food that is easy to store and is already believed to have health benefits. We extracted carotenoids from pumpkin by liquid-liquid extraction and by supercritical fluid extraction. We measured carotenoids by reversed-phase chroma...

By using the techniques of tissue culture, bio-assay and laboratory analysis, this paper studied the effects of the allelopathic chemicals from pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata) roots on the seed germination and seedling growth of pumpkin, wheat (Triticum aestivum), and radish (Raphanus sativus). The pumpkin root was cultured on a sterile B5 media, and the concentrations of macro- and microelements,...

Great morphological differences exist among fruits and vegetables. In this combined experimental and theoretical study, we predict pumpkin shape evolution and maximum size based on their material properties. Using time-lapse photography and measurements collected by volunteer farmers, we show that as pumpkins grow, they morph from spherical to pancake shapes, flattening up to 50% in height-towi...