In a study design 40 male albino rats were divided into four groups; control group
rats instilled with normal saline (2 mL/kg), 2 mL/kg of 0.1 N HCL at pH 1.25, oral
pumpkin seed oil at a dose of ~1375 mg/kg/day for a period of 7 days and 2 mL/kg of
0.1 N HCL at pH 1.25 in addition to the same amount of pumpkin seed oil. The
results revealed that lung tissue samples of the rats treated with pumpkin oil showed
decreased interalveolar septa thickness, inflammatory cell infiltration, less collagenous fiber area, and immune expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) as
compared to control group. Clinical symptoms of disturbed alveolocapillary membrane, degeneration of type II pneumocytes, and plentiful alveolar macrophages
were also reduced significantly with the treatment of pumpkin seed oil (Omar and
Sarhan 2017).
19.8.13 As Immune-Suppressant
In an in vitro study, the efficacy of pumpkin seeds extracts as immune-suppressant
was assessed in stimulated and unstimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells
(PBMC) of a healthy donor. The tryptophan degradation and neopterin production
increased in stimulated PBMC, which got suppressed with extracts of pumpkin seeds
in a dose-dependent manner. The pumpkin seed extracts showed potent immunesuppressant activity due to cytokine IFN-γ-induced biochemical changes. In
mitogen-stimulated PBMCs, the formation and release of cytokine IFN-γ was
suppressed due to the seed extract. Data obtained from this study revealed that
immunosuppressive effect of pumpkin seeds extracts could be attributed to the
antioxidant compounds, which are responsible for detoxification of reactive oxygen
species (ROS) and so also, they may lower the formation of ROS initiated by IFN-γ
(Winkler et al. 2005).
19.9 Adverse Effects and Individual Concerns
Though pumpkin seeds are used in a variety of food preparations, allergic reactions
to these seeds are rare and limited data is available on allergens in the seeds. A
research trial was conducted in an Out Patient Department Setup in Spain. Among
the three patients who were vulnerable for allergic reactions, pumpkin seed products
were administered to observe the allergenic response. Two out of three patients
reported anaphylactic reactions, whereas the third patient suffered from an episode
of oral allergy syndrome (OAS) and abdominal pain. It was also noted that three of
them had the tolerance to fruit as well as to other cucurbits but were allergic to some
other foods (nuts like cashews, pistachio, pine seeds, lipid transfer protein (LTP)
from nuts, peach allergen – Pru p 3). The diagnosis of allergic reactions was
confirmed with a skin prick test (SPT), prick by prick test (PP), and laboratory
testing of serum allergen-specific IgE antibodies using ImmunoCAP method. All the
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S. Adsul and V. Madkaikar
rats instilled with normal saline (2 mL/kg), 2 mL/kg of 0.1 N HCL at pH 1.25, oral
pumpkin seed oil at a dose of ~1375 mg/kg/day for a period of 7 days and 2 mL/kg of
0.1 N HCL at pH 1.25 in addition to the same amount of pumpkin seed oil. The
results revealed that lung tissue samples of the rats treated with pumpkin oil showed
decreased interalveolar septa thickness, inflammatory cell infiltration, less collagenous fiber area, and immune expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) as
compared to control group. Clinical symptoms of disturbed alveolocapillary membrane, degeneration of type II pneumocytes, and plentiful alveolar macrophages
were also reduced significantly with the treatment of pumpkin seed oil (Omar and
Sarhan 2017).
19.8.13 As Immune-Suppressant
In an in vitro study, the efficacy of pumpkin seeds extracts as immune-suppressant
was assessed in stimulated and unstimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells
(PBMC) of a healthy donor. The tryptophan degradation and neopterin production
increased in stimulated PBMC, which got suppressed with extracts of pumpkin seeds
in a dose-dependent manner. The pumpkin seed extracts showed potent immunesuppressant activity due to cytokine IFN-γ-induced biochemical changes. In
mitogen-stimulated PBMCs, the formation and release of cytokine IFN-γ was
suppressed due to the seed extract. Data obtained from this study revealed that
immunosuppressive effect of pumpkin seeds extracts could be attributed to the
antioxidant compounds, which are responsible for detoxification of reactive oxygen
species (ROS) and so also, they may lower the formation of ROS initiated by IFN-γ
(Winkler et al. 2005).
19.9 Adverse Effects and Individual Concerns
Though pumpkin seeds are used in a variety of food preparations, allergic reactions
to these seeds are rare and limited data is available on allergens in the seeds. A
research trial was conducted in an Out Patient Department Setup in Spain. Among
the three patients who were vulnerable for allergic reactions, pumpkin seed products
were administered to observe the allergenic response. Two out of three patients
reported anaphylactic reactions, whereas the third patient suffered from an episode
of oral allergy syndrome (OAS) and abdominal pain. It was also noted that three of
them had the tolerance to fruit as well as to other cucurbits but were allergic to some
other foods (nuts like cashews, pistachio, pine seeds, lipid transfer protein (LTP)
from nuts, peach allergen – Pru p 3). The diagnosis of allergic reactions was
confirmed with a skin prick test (SPT), prick by prick test (PP), and laboratory
testing of serum allergen-specific IgE antibodies using ImmunoCAP method. All the
494
S. Adsul and V. Madkaikar