Review of Cucurbita pepo (Pumpkin) its Phytochemistry and Pharmacology

Abstract

Cucurbita pepo, is widely used like food and in folk medicine around of the world. This aims a comprehensive of the pharmacological, chemical constituents, and clinical uses. Also have been identified the medicinally important phyto-constituents belonging mainly to cucurbitosides, multiflorane-type triterpenoids, carotenoids, ent-kaurane-type diterpene, and cucurbitaglycosides. Extracts and metabolites of this plant, particularly those from seeds and fruits possess useful pharmacological activities. A survey of the literature shows C. pepo, is mainly known for its improvement in prostatic hiperplasia (BPH), urinary dysfunction and cytotoxic properties, also has also been used extensively as a hypoglycaemic agent. Many pharmacological studies have demonstrated hepatoprotection, inhibit benign prostatic hiperplasia, antioxidant, anticancer, antimicrobial, antiinflamatory, antidiabetic, and antiulcer activities supporting its traditional uses.