A review on the ethnobotany, phytochemistry, pharmacology and nutritional composition of Cucurbita pepo L.
Journal Title: The Journal of Phytopharmacology - Year 2017, Vol 6, Issue 2
Abstract
Cucurbita pepo L. is widely used as a vegetable all around the globe. This review aimed at forming a relation between the traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology and nutritional composition of C. pepo. Traditionally this plant is used in Africa and Asia for the treatment of different diseases including fever, whopping cough, urinary problems, anti-scorbutic, hyperplasia, rheumatism, hemorrhoid, miscarriage, prostate cancer, constipation and blindness. Therapeutically, C. pepo is effective in antibacterial, antioxidant, antitumor, hypoglycemic (anti diabetic) and hypolipidemic activities. These activities of C. pepo might be due to the existence of certain classes of compounds including flavonoids, terpenoids, cardiac glycosides and cucurbitacins glycoside. C. pepo is also rich in nutritional components like carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and minerals. Hence, there is need to isolate and characterize active compounds in each class and developing new allopathic drugs with less or no side effects. Moreover, toxicity of this plant with dose dependent manner may also be tested along with measurements to conserve this species.
Authors and Affiliations
Muhammad Adnan, Sidra Gul, Sidra Batool, Bibi Fatima, Ali Rehman, Samina Yaqoob, Hassan Shabir, Touqeer Yousaf, Sakina Mussarat, Nawab Ali, Shahid Niaz Khan, Hazir Rahman, Muhammad Abdul Aziz
Keywords
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