In an in-vivo study on supplementation of pumpkin seed protein isolate revealed
its intense antioxidant activity in male Sprague-Dawley rats with acetaminopheninduced acute liver injury. In an in vitro model the pumpkin isolate exhibited radical
scavenging activity (about 80%), chelating activity of Fe
2+ ions (around 64%), and
an inhibition of xanthine oxidase (around 10%). The supplementation of isolate and
low-protein fed diet showed alleviated plasma activity levels of liver enzymes (AST
and ALT). The supplementation also resulted in reducing the harmful effects of
protein malnutrition and toxicity of acetaminophen (Nkosi et al. 2006a). Nkosi et al.
(2006b) demonstrated antiperoxidative properties of pumpkin seed protein isolates
with an animal study model. The Sprague-Dawley rats fed on low protein diet for
5 days were divided into three subgroups. Carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4 ) injections
were administered to two subgroups, while one group received an equal amount of
olive oil. After a period of 2 h one of the subgroups who received CCl 4 injection was
fed with diets containing 20% pumpkin protein isolate. The rest two subgroups were
continued (24, 48, and 72 h) on low protein diets until the investigations were carried
out. Supplementation with pumpkin seed protein isolate showed promising results in
reducing the damage caused due to protein malnutrition and CCl 4 intoxication. The
study also showed a significant reduction in lipid peroxidation level.
Pretreatment of rats with pumpkin seed oil resulted in alleviating the effects of
alcohol-induced liver injury. The protective role of pumpkin seed oil could be
attributed to antioxidant compounds in pumpkin seeds. The male albino rats
(30 numbers) were categorized into three groups. Group 1 which served as a control
received distilled water, Group 2 received 10% ethyl alcohol in drinking water for
4 weeks named as positive control. Third group was administered with pumpkin oil
(50 mg/kg) for a period of 4 weeks after pretreatment with 10% ethyl alcohol in
drinking water for 15 days. The pumpkin seed oil treatment resulted in significant
improvements in augmenting the elevated levels of serum alanine aminotransferase
(ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) though it did not affect aminotransferase
(AST) and gamma glutamyl transferase (γGT) activities. It also showed a significant
reduction in total serum proteins as compared to alcohol-treated group. The levels of
antioxidant enzymes (glutathione level, glutathione-S-transferase, and catalase) in
pumpkin seed oil-treated group increased ( p < 0.01; LSD) significantly as compared
to alcohol-treated group. The same group also demonstrated a significant decrease in
liver lipid peroxidation as compared to the positive control group (Abou Seif 2014).
Makni et al. (2008) demonstrated anti-atherogenic and protective effects of flax
pumpkin seed mixture on the liver. The study was performed on 30 male Wistar rats
divided into three groups: a control group (CD), CD-chol group fed diet with 1%
cholesterol, and MS-chol group fed diet enriched with flax and pumpkin seed
mixture. The results revealed that plasma and liver total cholesterol and
triacylglycerol levels were reduced by 25%; 15% and 39%; 18%, respectively in
MS-chol group compared to those of CD-chol group. Marked improvement in mono
unsaturated fatty acids such as oleic acid and eicosaenoic acid (+1.2 and + 1.3 fold in
plasma and + 1.6 and + 1.5 fold in liver) and a decrease in saturated fatty acids such
as palmitic and stearic acid content (
_ 0.6 and
_ 0.7 fold in plasma and
_ 0.4 and
_ 0.6
fold in liver) were also observed in MS-chol group as compared to those of CD-chol
19 Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) Seed
489
its intense antioxidant activity in male Sprague-Dawley rats with acetaminopheninduced acute liver injury. In an in vitro model the pumpkin isolate exhibited radical
scavenging activity (about 80%), chelating activity of Fe
2+ ions (around 64%), and
an inhibition of xanthine oxidase (around 10%). The supplementation of isolate and
low-protein fed diet showed alleviated plasma activity levels of liver enzymes (AST
and ALT). The supplementation also resulted in reducing the harmful effects of
protein malnutrition and toxicity of acetaminophen (Nkosi et al. 2006a). Nkosi et al.
(2006b) demonstrated antiperoxidative properties of pumpkin seed protein isolates
with an animal study model. The Sprague-Dawley rats fed on low protein diet for
5 days were divided into three subgroups. Carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4 ) injections
were administered to two subgroups, while one group received an equal amount of
olive oil. After a period of 2 h one of the subgroups who received CCl 4 injection was
fed with diets containing 20% pumpkin protein isolate. The rest two subgroups were
continued (24, 48, and 72 h) on low protein diets until the investigations were carried
out. Supplementation with pumpkin seed protein isolate showed promising results in
reducing the damage caused due to protein malnutrition and CCl 4 intoxication. The
study also showed a significant reduction in lipid peroxidation level.
Pretreatment of rats with pumpkin seed oil resulted in alleviating the effects of
alcohol-induced liver injury. The protective role of pumpkin seed oil could be
attributed to antioxidant compounds in pumpkin seeds. The male albino rats
(30 numbers) were categorized into three groups. Group 1 which served as a control
received distilled water, Group 2 received 10% ethyl alcohol in drinking water for
4 weeks named as positive control. Third group was administered with pumpkin oil
(50 mg/kg) for a period of 4 weeks after pretreatment with 10% ethyl alcohol in
drinking water for 15 days. The pumpkin seed oil treatment resulted in significant
improvements in augmenting the elevated levels of serum alanine aminotransferase
(ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) though it did not affect aminotransferase
(AST) and gamma glutamyl transferase (γGT) activities. It also showed a significant
reduction in total serum proteins as compared to alcohol-treated group. The levels of
antioxidant enzymes (glutathione level, glutathione-S-transferase, and catalase) in
pumpkin seed oil-treated group increased ( p < 0.01; LSD) significantly as compared
to alcohol-treated group. The same group also demonstrated a significant decrease in
liver lipid peroxidation as compared to the positive control group (Abou Seif 2014).
Makni et al. (2008) demonstrated anti-atherogenic and protective effects of flax
pumpkin seed mixture on the liver. The study was performed on 30 male Wistar rats
divided into three groups: a control group (CD), CD-chol group fed diet with 1%
cholesterol, and MS-chol group fed diet enriched with flax and pumpkin seed
mixture. The results revealed that plasma and liver total cholesterol and
triacylglycerol levels were reduced by 25%; 15% and 39%; 18%, respectively in
MS-chol group compared to those of CD-chol group. Marked improvement in mono
unsaturated fatty acids such as oleic acid and eicosaenoic acid (+1.2 and + 1.3 fold in
plasma and + 1.6 and + 1.5 fold in liver) and a decrease in saturated fatty acids such
as palmitic and stearic acid content (
_ 0.6 and
_ 0.7 fold in plasma and
_ 0.4 and
_ 0.6
fold in liver) were also observed in MS-chol group as compared to those of CD-chol
19 Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) Seed
489