Use of Cucurbita spp seeds in the province of Chaco, Argentina for nutraceutical purposes
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58720/ibs.v2i2.41Keywords:
Lomas de Lima, Problem, Urbanization, Contamination, Overgrazing, Civil SocietyAbstract
The pumpkin is a herbaceous plant, whose pulp is used for human consumption and its seeds are discarded, however, they have nutrients that are not used. The objective of this work is to carry out the botanical and chemical characterization of the crude drug from seeds of Cucurbita spp. Three varieties were compared: C. mixta Pangalo (striped pumpkin), C. moschata (Duchesne ex Lam.) Duchesne ex Poir. (koreanito) and, C. maxima Duchesne (lead pumpkin). The results obtained from the macroscopic visual examination were: length from 1.5 mm ± 0.1 to 1.9 mm ± 0.1; width of 0.8 mm ± 0.1 to 1.2 mm ± 0.1 and thickness of 0.2 mm ± 0.01 to 0.4 mm ± 0. Photochemical screening in the aqueous and alcoholic extracts studied revealed the presence of flavonoids, reducing sugars and amino acids. Regarding the pharmacognostic parameters: humidity from 4.68% ± 0.25 to 7.10% ± 0.74; ash from 3.87% ± 0.75 to 5.02% ± 0.68; insoluble ash 0.20% ± 0.13; crude fiber 1,768%. The protein content of the studied seeds (n=3) varied between: 29.79% ± 0.66 and 39.56% ± 0.78 in dry mass (d.m). The mineral composition was determined by Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Based on the Reference Daily Intake (RDI) the contribution of the major essential elements was significant, being Mg > P > K > Ca > Na and, among the minor elements, Mn, Cu, Fe and Zn. These studied characteristics show the valuable nutritional potential of Cucurbita spp.
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