Bioactive Compound Extraction and Nutritional Assessment of Cucurbita Species
Summary
The genus Cucurbita encompasses a range of species commonly known as pumpkins and squashes, valued both as staple foods and as sources of health‐promoting ingredients. Bioactive compounds such as carotenoids, polyphenols, tocopherols and phytosterols are distributed throughout the fruit’s peel, pulp, fibres and seeds. Advances in extraction technologies—including ultrasound-assisted, microwave-assisted and supercritical carbon dioxide methods—have enabled more efficient and selective isolation of these compounds while minimising solvent usage and thermal degradation. Nutritional assessment of Cucurbita spp. combines quantitative profiling of vitamins (A, C and E), minerals (potassium, calcium, magnesium, zinc) and macronutrients with evaluation of antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities. This integrated approach supports the valorisation of agro-industrial by-products, promotes circular economy practices and informs the development of functional foods and nutraceutical formulations. Population studies underscore the global relevance of Cucurbita bioactives in addressing dietary deficiencies, mitigating chronic disease risk and enhancing food security through sustainable resource use.
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Bioactive Compound Extraction and Nutritional Assessment of Cucurbita Species publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in bioactive compound extraction and nutritional assessment of cucurbita species across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Bioactive compound: A naturally occurring molecule in foods that exerts beneficial effects on physiological functions beyond basic nutrition.
Carotenoid: A class of pigmented, lipophilic compounds (such as β‐carotene and lutein) with antioxidant properties and roles as vitamin A precursors.
Polyphenol: A broad family of plant secondary metabolites, including flavonoids and phenolic acids, characterised by multiple phenolic rings and strong free‐radical scavenging activity.
Supercritical carbon dioxide extraction: A green separation technique utilising CO₂ at supercritical conditions to solubilise and recover lipophilic bioactives without toxic solvents.
Response surface methodology: A statistical tool for designing experiments, modelling and optimising process parameters to maximise yield or activity of target compounds.
References
- Valorisation of pumpkin by-products: Chemical composition and bioactive properties of pumpkin seeds, peels, and fibrous strands from different local landraces of Greece. Food Chemistry (2025).
- Phenolic compounds from pumpkin pulp: Extraction optimization and biological properties. Food Chemistry X (2024).
- The Profile of Secondary Metabolites and Other Bioactive Compounds in Cucurbita pepo L. and Cucurbita moschata Pumpkin Cultivars. Molecules (2019).
- Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Extraction of Carotenoids from Pumpkin (Cucurbita spp.): A Review. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2014).
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