Cucurbita pepo (Kourjèt) : medicinal properties in alcoholic extraction

Cucurbita pepo (Kourjèt, Courgette) — family Cucurbitacées.

Scientific synonyms : Cucurbita aurata-W, C esculenta-N, C fastuosa-S, C melopepo-L, C ovifera-L, C polymorpha-D, Pepo melopepo-(L)-M, P verrucosus-(L)-M, P vulgaris-M.

Recognised external sources linked to this monograph: French Pharmacopoeia.

This database documents alcoholic (ethanol) extractions of active substances. Our monograph currently lists 14 indications in alcoholic extraction for this species. The Lapo v2 catalogue records 89 scientific references for this species (full detail in the application).

Important — scientific references on this public page: only a short excerpt of each cited source is shown (selected abstract sentences), kept in the original language of the publication (most often English), without translation. These excerpts are not the full article text and are not a complete bibliography. The full reference records and complete monographic detail are available in the Lapo v2 application (free 30-day trial).

1. 1

   Diabetic neuropathy

   Plant part used: Seed.

   Scientific references (short excerpts)

   Short excerpts only (not the full article). Full reference records are in the Lapo v2 application.

   • According to Kaur N (2023)

     Excerpt The aim of current study was to investigate the potential of CP in attenuation of diabetic neuropathy via using streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes model in male Wistar rats. Conclusion: Thus, CP might ameliorate the progression of diabetic neuropathy via modulation of chronic hyperglycemia & therefore & have therapeutic potential for treatment of diabetic neuropathic pain.

   • According to Sedigheh A (2011)

     Excerpt This study was aimed to evaluate the hypoglycaemic & hypolipidemic effects of different doses of pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) powder in male diabetic rats. A total of 35 rats were randomized into 5 groups of 7 each as follows: Group 1: Normal control; Group 2: Diabetic control; Group 3: Diabetics administered with low doses of pumpkin powder (1 g/kg); Group 4: Diabetics administered with high doses of pumpkin powder (2 g/kg), and Group 5: Diabetics administered with Glibenclamide (0.6 mg/kg), as positive control.

   • According to Sahavi M (2018)

     Excerpt (Cucurbita pepo L.) from the Cucurbitaceae family has a low calorie but high nutritional & medical value. Conclusion:

   • Excerpt According to the results we suggest that squash extract could have positive effect on regulating some of blood elements like glucose which are under the bad effect of diabetes type1 in rats.

   • According to Aboelnaga SM (2017)

     Excerpt In conclusion, pumpkin seed & husk tomato revealed signs of improvement in obese-diabetic rats which might be a good approach to be applied in human suffering from diabetes complication,. The rats in the second group (obese group) were administered with alloxan (120mg alloxan /kg bodyweight) to induce diabetes.

   • According to Ghahremanloo A (2017)

     Excerpt Cucurbita pepo as a favorable plant has different properties notably antioxidant, lipid-lowering & anti-diabetic potential. Prevention & treatment of obesity is a way to reduce cardiovascular disease, diabetes & depression.

2. 2

   Cancer: adjuvant treatment for colorectal, liver and ovarian cancer

   Plant part used: Sheet.

   Scientific references (short excerpts)

   Short excerpts only (not the full article). Full reference records are in the Lapo v2 application.

   • According to Younis YM (2000)

     Excerpt Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) seeds are used locally in Eritrea to treat tapeworm.

   • According to Iosypenko OO (n.d.)

     Excerpt The qualitative composition & quantitative content of fatty acids in leaves of vegetable marrows (Cucurbita pepo L. giromontina Alef.), zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L.

   • According to Ghahremanloo A (2017)

     Excerpt Cucurbita pepo as a favorable plant has different properties notably antioxidant, lipid-lowering & anti-diabetic potential. Results: CP in a dose-dependent manner dramatically decreased triglycerides & low-density lipoprotein, & liver enzymes while high-density lipoprotein was markedly increased in treated groups.

   • According to Nkosi CZ (2006)

     Excerpt Nkosi CZ et al, In Vitro Antioxidative activity of pumpkin seed (Cucurbita pepo) protein isolate & it’s in vivo effect on alanine transaminase & aspartate transaminase in acetaminophen- induced liver injury in low protein fed rats.

   • According to Shokrzadeh M (2010)

     Excerpt Also, Solanum nigrum has been used as a diuretic & an antipyretic agent & it has also been used to cure inflammation, edema, mastitis & hepatic cancer. nigrum was studied on normal [Chinese hamster ovarian cells (CHO) & rat fibroblast] & cancer (HepG2 & CT26) cell lines.

3. 3

   Oxidative stress

   Plant part used: Seed.

   Scientific references (short excerpts)

   Short excerpts only (not the full article). Full reference records are in the Lapo v2 application.

   • According to NEAMAH GAK (2023)

     Excerpt The main goal of the study was to find whether pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) extract has any preventive or antioxidant properties against acute uranyl acetate (UA)-induced reproductive cytotoxicity. Conclusion: We concluded that UA causes oxidative stress & histopathological alterations in the rat reproductive system.

   • According to Kaur N (2023)

     Excerpt Moreover, the oxidative stress & level of TNF-α, TGF-β & IL-1β was found to be significantly attenuated in experimental animals. Cucurbita pepo is cultivated & used traditionally as vegetable as well as medicine in different parts of the world.

   • According to Ghahremanloo A (2017)

     Excerpt Cucurbita pepo as a favorable plant has different properties notably antioxidant, lipid-lowering & anti-diabetic potential. Conclusions: CP ameliorated oxidative stress & dyslipidemia in obese rats, leading to decrease cardiovascular disease risk in obesity,.

   • According to El=Sayed G E (2020)

     Excerpt In conclusion, results showed that zucchini had similar potential to attenuate CHD-related parameters in a mild oxidative stress induced by high-fat diet in rats.

   • According to Beshay EVN (2019)

     Excerpt However, PZQ was significantly more effective as an antiparasitic agent, whereas PSO was better in terms of fibrosis & oxidative stress. Moreover, the oxidative stress was evaluated by determining the amounts of malondialdehyde & superoxide dismutase in liver homogenates.

Further indications (including other extraction modes where applicable), dosages, precautions for use, and the <strong>full scientific references</strong> (complete records, not only the short excerpts above) are available in the complete monographic record in the Lapo v2 application.