Cucurbita maxima (Pumpkin) : medicinal properties in alcoholic extraction

Cucurbita maxima (Pumpkin) — family Cucurbitacées.

This database documents alcoholic (ethanol) extractions of active substances. Our monograph currently lists 12 indications in alcoholic extraction for this species. The monograph draws on 74 scientific references recorded for the species.

Therapeutic indications in alcoholic extraction:

Note: scientific reference excerpts are kept in their original language (most often English), without translation, to respect the source text of publications.

1. Diabète mellitus de type II : Plant part used: Parties aeriennes. Documented pharmacological profile: Glibenclamide-like.
   According to Lal VK (2016): Results: Hypoglycemic activity was evaluated on streptozotocin induced diabetic rats at the doses of 100 and 200 mg kg-1 for 28 days. Oral daily administration of both fruit juice & extract led to significant decrease in hyperglycemia as compared to unfed diabetic control. According to Kumar KD (2016): The glycemic elemental profile further validates their role in controlling diabetes & hence CM seeds could be explored as a potential herbal candidate for managing postprandial hyperglycemia causing type 2 diabetes mellitus.
2. Helminthiase : Plant part used: Semence. Documented pharmacological profile: Albendazole-like.
   According to Pandey A (2011): The comparison of death time for both the plants in different concentrations with respect to standard The results established ZZ to be a more potent candidate as compared to CM, The present study has enabled us to conclude the potential use of ethanolic extracts of both the plants as an anthelmintic against P. posthuma in vitro model. According to Ayaz E (2015): The aim of this study was to investigate the anthelmintic effect of pumpkin seeds (Cucurbita maxima) against Aspiculuris tetraptera in naturally infected mice.
3. Arthrose, arthrite, rhumatisme, oedème : Plant part used: Semence. Documented pharmacological profile: Ibuprofène-like.
   According to Wahid S (2021): Anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated by rat hind paw edema method. Thus, the current study was designed to evaluate the safety profile & explore the analgesic & anti-inflammatory activity of ethanol extract of Cucurbita maxima & Cucumis sativus seeds. According to Cruz RCB (2006): Pumpkin seeds of Cucurbita maxima are frequently used for stomach pain, as an anti-inflammatory & antipyretic, & for the treatment of worms.

Further indications (including other extraction modes where applicable), dosages, precautions for use and full scientific references are available in the complete monograph.

Photo credit : Photo by George Chernilevsky without modification (public domain).