THE POTENTIAL CYTOTOXICITY AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITIES FOR RIND AND SEEDS OIL EXTRACTS OF PUMPKIN (Cucurbita pepo L.)

Abstract

The main outcomes of this work were evaluation the bioactivities of some natural organic compounds extracted from rind and seeds of Pumpkin by using in vitro tests as well as, their chemical analysis. In one unique considers the first study carried out on the Pumpkin rind was found to be rich in β- carotene and minerals (Calcium, Iron, Zinc, Copper and Selenium) and a good source of protein; the potential cytotoxicity of rind extract obviously appears in its IC50 "its dose which reduces survival to 50%" which equal to 0.54 and 0.60µg using breast and liver carcinoma cell lines respectively, besides it has moderate positive antibacterial effects on Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus cereus. Pumpkin seeds were found to be rich in fat and protein with an average yield of approximately 47.03 and 35.95% respectively, as well as they not only rich in essential fatty and amino acids but also in minerals. In addition, Pumpkin seeds oil has highly positive effects on both breast and liver tumor cell lines where, it has IC50 0.40 and 0.81µg respectively. The results show very clearly that the Pumpkin seeds oil has strong positive antimicrobial effect toward Saccharomyces cerevisiae, in the same words; neither rind extract nor seeds oil of Pumpkin has any antimicrobial positive effects on Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichiea coli, Salmonella and Aspergillus niger. The results obtained in this study indicated that, Rind extract and Pumpkin seeds oil are rich sources of nutrients. Therefore, they can be consumed as food or as supplementary ingredients especially in Egypt to alleviate the problems of health and nutrients/protein malnutrition.