Nutr Res Pract.  2012 Feb;6(1):21-27.

Comparison of the chemical compositions and nutritive values of various pumpkin (Cucurbitaceae) species and parts

• Kim MY
• Kim EJ
• Kim YN
• Choi C
• Lee BH

Abstract

Pumpkins have considerable variation in nutrient contents depending on the cultivation environment, species, or part. In this study, the general chemical compositions and some bioactive components, such as tocopherols, carotenoids, and beta-sitosterol, were analyzed in three major species of pumpkin (Cucurbitaceae pepo, C. moschata, and C. maxima) grown in Korea and also in three parts (peel, flesh, and seed) of each pumpkin species. C. maxima had significantly more carbohydrate, protein, fat, and fiber than C. pepo or C. moschata (P < 0.05). The moisture content as well as the amino acid and arginine contents in all parts of the pumpkin was highest in C. pepo. The major fatty acids in the seeds were palmitic, stearic, oleic, and linoleic acids. C. pepo and C. moschata seeds had significantly more gamma-tocopherol than C. maxima, whose seeds had the highest beta-carotene content. C. pepo seeds had significantly more beta-sitosterol than the others. Nutrient compositions differed considerably among the pumpkin species and parts. These results will be useful in updating the nutrient compositions of pumpkin in the Korean food composition database. Additional analyses of various pumpkins grown in different years and in different areas of Korea are needed.

Keyword

Pumpkins; macronutrients; tocopherols; carotenoids; beta-sitosterol

MeSH Terms

Arginine
beta Carotene
Carotenoids
Cucurbita
Fatty Acids
gamma-Tocopherol
Korea
Linoleic Acid
Linoleic Acids
Nutritive Value
Seeds
Sitosterols
Tocopherols
Arginine
Carotenoids
Fatty Acids
Linoleic Acid
Linoleic Acids
Sitosterols
Tocopherols
beta Carotene
gamma-Tocopherol

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