(PA-1), breast cancer (MCF-7), hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2), and prostate
cancer (PC-3 and DU-145) cell lines in culture. Studies using acridine orange
staining and DNA fragmentation methods revealed the induction of apoptosis and
cytotoxic effect of pumpkin 2S albumin. DNase activity of pumpkin protein was
exhibited against linear as well as super-coiled double-stranded DNA. Circular
dichroism (CD) spectroscopy used to analyze secondary structures showed pumpkin
2S albumin to be highly stable even at 90
C and its alpha helical structure was
retained. In an in vitro study hydroalcoholic extracts of pumpkin seed inhibited the
growth of both cancer as well as to lesser extent hyperplastic cells (Medjakovic et al.
2016). Bardaa et al. (2016) evaluated the cytotoxicity of cold-pressed pumpkin seeds
(Cucurbita pepo L.) oil to HeLa cells. Results indicated that pumpkin seed oil at a
concentration of 100 mg/mL destroyed almost more than half of the cancerous HeLa
cells.
19.8.5 Protection Against Cellular Damage
In an animal study on Wistar rats, protective effects of pumpkin seed extract (PSE)
were evaluated on the adverse effects of tramadol on the testes of adult and
adolescent rats. The animals were divided into four groups. Control group received
1 mL of 0.9% saline. Second group received 20, 40, or 80 mg/kg body weight of
tramadol in 1 mL of distilled water during the first, second, and third week,
respectively. Third group received oral dose of PSE (40 mg/kg body weight in
distilled water (1 mL) and fourth group received daily oral dose of tramadol (20, 40,
and 80 mg/kg body weight during the first, second, and third week) plus PSE (40 mg/
kg body weight). Owing to the antioxidant activity and free radical scavenging
ability, PSE expressed prophylactic effect on tramadol-induced testicular damage
which was comparatively less in the testes of the adolescent group than adult group
(Minisy et al. 2017).
19.8.6 In Kidney Disease and Liver Injury
Traditionally pumpkin seed has been used to treat the overactive bladder (OAB)
symptoms. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted to
evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Cucuflavone (supplement containing
extracts of pumpkin seed and soy germ extracts). Total of 120 subjects with OAB
received the supplement for 12 weeks. A drastic decrease in urinary frequency,
urgency, urinary incontinence, nocturea, and OAB was observed in the test group
when compared with control, suggesting the potential of the combination of pumpkin seed and soy germ extract to be used as an alternative treatment to alleviate OAB
symptoms and also to improve quality of life (Shim et al. 2014).
488
S. Adsul and V. Madkaikar
cancer (PC-3 and DU-145) cell lines in culture. Studies using acridine orange
staining and DNA fragmentation methods revealed the induction of apoptosis and
cytotoxic effect of pumpkin 2S albumin. DNase activity of pumpkin protein was
exhibited against linear as well as super-coiled double-stranded DNA. Circular
dichroism (CD) spectroscopy used to analyze secondary structures showed pumpkin
2S albumin to be highly stable even at 90
C and its alpha helical structure was
retained. In an in vitro study hydroalcoholic extracts of pumpkin seed inhibited the
growth of both cancer as well as to lesser extent hyperplastic cells (Medjakovic et al.
2016). Bardaa et al. (2016) evaluated the cytotoxicity of cold-pressed pumpkin seeds
(Cucurbita pepo L.) oil to HeLa cells. Results indicated that pumpkin seed oil at a
concentration of 100 mg/mL destroyed almost more than half of the cancerous HeLa
cells.
19.8.5 Protection Against Cellular Damage
In an animal study on Wistar rats, protective effects of pumpkin seed extract (PSE)
were evaluated on the adverse effects of tramadol on the testes of adult and
adolescent rats. The animals were divided into four groups. Control group received
1 mL of 0.9% saline. Second group received 20, 40, or 80 mg/kg body weight of
tramadol in 1 mL of distilled water during the first, second, and third week,
respectively. Third group received oral dose of PSE (40 mg/kg body weight in
distilled water (1 mL) and fourth group received daily oral dose of tramadol (20, 40,
and 80 mg/kg body weight during the first, second, and third week) plus PSE (40 mg/
kg body weight). Owing to the antioxidant activity and free radical scavenging
ability, PSE expressed prophylactic effect on tramadol-induced testicular damage
which was comparatively less in the testes of the adolescent group than adult group
(Minisy et al. 2017).
19.8.6 In Kidney Disease and Liver Injury
Traditionally pumpkin seed has been used to treat the overactive bladder (OAB)
symptoms. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted to
evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Cucuflavone (supplement containing
extracts of pumpkin seed and soy germ extracts). Total of 120 subjects with OAB
received the supplement for 12 weeks. A drastic decrease in urinary frequency,
urgency, urinary incontinence, nocturea, and OAB was observed in the test group
when compared with control, suggesting the potential of the combination of pumpkin seed and soy germ extract to be used as an alternative treatment to alleviate OAB
symptoms and also to improve quality of life (Shim et al. 2014).
488
S. Adsul and V. Madkaikar