Research Article
Antioxidant content of C. maxima and C. pepo seeds and the cytotoxic effect on chronic lymphocytic leukemia cell lines
Abstract
Pumpkin seeds are essential for health due to their rich content, especially their oils, which are high in phenolic compounds. These compounds can be an alternative treatment for diabetes mellitus by reducing blood glucose levels. This study examined the seeds of C. maxima and C. pepo, which were grown in the Sakarya-Arifiye region and harvested in November 2022. DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activity, total polyphenol, and flavonoid content of methanolic extracts were measured spectrophotometrically, with three separate extraction replicates for each sample. The total phenolic content was 0.31 ± 0.09 mg/g for C. pepo seeds and 0.19 ± 0.02 mg/g for C. maxima seeds. Total flavonoid content was 217.2 ± 20.9 μg/g in C. pepo and 162.9 ± 19.3 μg/g in C. maxima. Antioxidant activity levels demonstrated 12.7 ± 2.4% inhibition for C. pepo and 15.09 ± 0.4% for C. maxima in DPPH scavenging. In the MEC-1 (mutant p53 chronic B cell leukaemia) cell line, the IC50 value for C. pepo was 205 mg/ml, while for C. maxima, it indicated a proliferative effect. In the HG-3 (wild-type chronic B cell leukaemia) cell line, IC50 was 209 mg/ml for C. pepo and 940 mg/ml for C. maxima. These findings indicate that antioxidant, flavonoid, and phenolic content vary by species and growing conditions, influencing antiproliferative effects on cancer cells. Further studies on pumpkin seeds’ effects on metabolic pathways in various diseases will be beneficial.
Keywords
References
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- Azari Z, Zamini A, Dabirian S, et al (2018): Cytotoxicity Effect of Hull-Less Seed Pumpkin Extract on Human Papillary Thyroid Cancer Cell Line. Anat Sci, 15, 55-62.
- Aziz ARA, AbouLaila MR, Aziz M, et al (2018): In vitro and in vivo anthelmintic activity of pumpkin seeds and pomegranate peels extracts against Ascaridia galli. Beni Suef Univ J Basic Appl Sci, 7, 231-234.
- Bahadori HM, Azari Z, Zaminy A, et al (2020): Anti-proliferative and apoptotic effects of hull-less pumpkin extract on human papillary thyroid carcinoma cell line. Anat Cell Biol 2021, 54, 104-111.
- Boateng M, Okai DB, Baah J, et al (2008): Palm kernel cake extraction and utilisation in pig and poultry diets in Ghana. Livest Res Rural Dev, 20, 99.
- Dotto JM, Chacha JS (2020): The potential of pumpkin seeds as a functional food ingredient: A review. Sci Afr, 10, 575.
- Hagos M, Yaya EE, Chandravanshi BS (2023): Determination of fatty acids composition by GC-MS and physicochemical parameters of pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima) seed oil cultivated in Ethiopia. Bull Chem Soc Ethiop, 37, 565-577.
- Hussain A, Kausar T, Din A, et al (2021): Determination of total phenolic, flavonoid, carotenoid, and mineral contents in peel, flesh, and seeds of pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima). J Food Proces Preserv, 45, 15542.
- Hussain A, Kausar T, Sehar S, et al (2022): Determination of Total Phenolics, Flavonoids, Carotenoids, β-Carotene and DPPH Free Radical Scavenging Activity of Biscuits Developed with Different Replacement Levels of Pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima) Peel, Flesh and Seeds Powders. TURJAF, 10, 1506-1514.
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- Kulaitiene J, Cerniauskiene J, Jariene E, et al (2017): Antioxidant activity and other quality parameters of cold pressing pumpkin seed oil. Not Bot Horti Agrobo, 46, 161.
- Kulczyński B, Sidor A, Gramza-Michałowska A (2020): Antioxidant potential of phytochemicals in pumpkin varieties belonging to Cucurbita moschata and Cucurbita pepo species. CyTA- J Food, 18, 472-484.
- Kurt B (2024): Kronik lenfositik lösemide MDM2/MDMX ifadesinin RO-5963 hedef molekülüyle engellenmesinin etkisinin araştırılması. Doktora Tezi. Ankara Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Enstitüsü, Ankara.
- Li F, Shen L, Ji H (2012): Dietary intakes of vitamin E, vitamin C, and Β-Carotene and Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease: A Meta-Analysis. J Alzheimer’s Dis, 31, 253-258.
- Medjakovic S, Hobiger S, Ardjomand-Woelkart K, et al (2016): Pumpkin seed extract: Cell growth inhibition of hyperplastic and cancer cells, independent of steroid hormone receptors. Fitoterapia, 110, 150-156.
- Meral ÇS (2018): Akciğer kanseri hücrelerinde alfa lipoik asit ve piperlonguminin hücre canlılığına etkisi. Yüksek Lisans Tezi. Ankara Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Enstitüsü, Ankara.
- Meru G, Fu Y, Leyva D, et al (2018): Phenotypic relationships among oil, protein, fatty acid composition and seed size traits in Cucurbita pepo. Sci Hort, 233, 47-53.
- Nawirska-Olszanska A, Kita A, Biesiada A, et al (2013): Characteristics of antioxidant activity and composition of pumpkin seed oils in 12 cultivars. Food Chem, 139, 155-161.
- Nyam KL, Lau M, Tan CP (2013): Fibre from Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) Seeds and Rinds: Physico-chemical Properties, Antioxidant Capacity and Application as Bakery Product Ingredients. Mal J Nutr, 19, 99-109.
- Peiretti PG, Meineri G, Gai F, et al (2017): Antioxidative activities and phenolic compounds of pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) seeds and amaranth (Amaranthus caudatus) grain extracts. Nat Prod Res, 31, 2178-2182.
- Peng M, Lu D, Liu J, et al (2021): Effect of Roasting on the Antioxidant Activity, Phenolic Composition, and Nutritional Quality of Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) Seeds. Front Nutr, 8, 647354.
- Quesada-Granados JJ, Rufián-Henares JÁ, Chakradhari S, et al (2023): Comparative Analysis of Traditional Oriental Herbal Fruits as Potential Sources of Polyphenols and Minerals for Nutritional Supplements. Molecules, 28, 2682.
- Rakass S, Babiker HAA, Oudghiri-Hassani H (2018): Comparative evaluation of total phenolic content, total flavonoids content and antioxidants activity in skin and pulp extracts of Cucurbita maxima. Mor J Chem, 6, 218-222.
- Rezig L, Chouaibi M, Meddeb W, et al (2019): Chemical composition and bioactive compounds of Cucurbitaceae seeds: Potential sources for new trends of plant oils. Process Saf Environ, 127, 73-81.
- Scalzo J, Politi A, Pellegrini N, et al (2005): Plant genotype total antioxidant capacity and phenolic contents in fruit. Nutr, 21, 207-213.
- Siger A, Nogala-Kalucka M, Lampart-Szczapa E (2008): The content and antioxidant activity of phenolic compounds in cold-pressed plant oils. J Food Lipids, 15, 137-149.
- Solmaz M (2017): Kara turpun (Raphanus sativus l. niger) bazı biyoaktif bileşenlerinin ekstraksiyonu. Yüksek Lisans Tezi. Ondokuz Mayıs Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Enstitüsü, Samsun.
- Tuberoso CIG, Kowalczyk A, Sarritzu E, et al (2007): Determination of antioxidant compounds and anti-oxidant activity in commercial oil seeds for food use. Food Chem, 103, 1494-1501.
- Ullah SO, Khattak MMK, Shukri NM, et al (2014): Determination of total phenolic, flavonoid content and free radical scavenging activities of common herbs and spices. J Pharmacogn Phytochem, 3, 104-108.
- Vinayashree S, Hemakumar C, Veeranna RP, et al (2024): In Vitro Studies of Pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata var. Kashi Harit) Seed Protein Fraction(s) to Evaluate Anticancer and Antidiabetic Properties. Plant Foods Hum Nutr, 79, 632-640.
- Xanthopoulou MN, Nomikos T, Fragopoulou E, et al (2009): Antioxidant and lipoxygenase inhibitory activities of pumpkin seed extracts. Food Res Int, 42, 641-646.
C. maxima ve C. pepo Çekirdeklerinin Antioksidan İçeriği ve Kronik Lenfositik Lösemi Hücre Hatları Üzerindeki Sitotoksik Etkisi
Abstract
References
- Akomolafe SF, Oboh G, Oyeleye SI, et al (2016): Phenolic Composition and Inhibitory Ability of Methanolic Extract from Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L) Seeds on Fe- induced Thiobarbituric acid reactive species in Albino Rat’s Testicular Tissue In-Vitro. J App Pharm Sci, 6, 115-120.
- Andrade-Cetto A, Heinrich M (2005): Mexican plants with hypoglycaemic effect used in the treatment of diabetes. J Ethnopharmacol, 99, 325–348.
- Azari Z, Zamini A, Dabirian S, et al (2018): Cytotoxicity Effect of Hull-Less Seed Pumpkin Extract on Human Papillary Thyroid Cancer Cell Line. Anat Sci, 15, 55-62.
- Aziz ARA, AbouLaila MR, Aziz M, et al (2018): In vitro and in vivo anthelmintic activity of pumpkin seeds and pomegranate peels extracts against Ascaridia galli. Beni Suef Univ J Basic Appl Sci, 7, 231-234.
- Bahadori HM, Azari Z, Zaminy A, et al (2020): Anti-proliferative and apoptotic effects of hull-less pumpkin extract on human papillary thyroid carcinoma cell line. Anat Cell Biol 2021, 54, 104-111.
- Boateng M, Okai DB, Baah J, et al (2008): Palm kernel cake extraction and utilisation in pig and poultry diets in Ghana. Livest Res Rural Dev, 20, 99.
- Dotto JM, Chacha JS (2020): The potential of pumpkin seeds as a functional food ingredient: A review. Sci Afr, 10, 575.
- Hagos M, Yaya EE, Chandravanshi BS (2023): Determination of fatty acids composition by GC-MS and physicochemical parameters of pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima) seed oil cultivated in Ethiopia. Bull Chem Soc Ethiop, 37, 565-577.
- Hussain A, Kausar T, Din A, et al (2021): Determination of total phenolic, flavonoid, carotenoid, and mineral contents in peel, flesh, and seeds of pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima). J Food Proces Preserv, 45, 15542.
- Hussain A, Kausar T, Sehar S, et al (2022): Determination of Total Phenolics, Flavonoids, Carotenoids, β-Carotene and DPPH Free Radical Scavenging Activity of Biscuits Developed with Different Replacement Levels of Pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima) Peel, Flesh and Seeds Powders. TURJAF, 10, 1506-1514.
- Indrianingsih AW, Rosyida VT, Apriyana W, et al (2019): Comparisons of antioxidant activities of two varieties of pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata and Cucurbita maxima) extracts. IOP Conf Ser: Earth Environ Sci, 251, 012021.
- Kulaitiene J, Cerniauskiene J, Jariene E, et al (2017): Antioxidant activity and other quality parameters of cold pressing pumpkin seed oil. Not Bot Horti Agrobo, 46, 161.
- Kulczyński B, Sidor A, Gramza-Michałowska A (2020): Antioxidant potential of phytochemicals in pumpkin varieties belonging to Cucurbita moschata and Cucurbita pepo species. CyTA- J Food, 18, 472-484.
- Kurt B (2024): Kronik lenfositik lösemide MDM2/MDMX ifadesinin RO-5963 hedef molekülüyle engellenmesinin etkisinin araştırılması. Doktora Tezi. Ankara Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Enstitüsü, Ankara.
- Li F, Shen L, Ji H (2012): Dietary intakes of vitamin E, vitamin C, and Β-Carotene and Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease: A Meta-Analysis. J Alzheimer’s Dis, 31, 253-258.
- Medjakovic S, Hobiger S, Ardjomand-Woelkart K, et al (2016): Pumpkin seed extract: Cell growth inhibition of hyperplastic and cancer cells, independent of steroid hormone receptors. Fitoterapia, 110, 150-156.
- Meral ÇS (2018): Akciğer kanseri hücrelerinde alfa lipoik asit ve piperlonguminin hücre canlılığına etkisi. Yüksek Lisans Tezi. Ankara Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Enstitüsü, Ankara.
- Meru G, Fu Y, Leyva D, et al (2018): Phenotypic relationships among oil, protein, fatty acid composition and seed size traits in Cucurbita pepo. Sci Hort, 233, 47-53.
- Nawirska-Olszanska A, Kita A, Biesiada A, et al (2013): Characteristics of antioxidant activity and composition of pumpkin seed oils in 12 cultivars. Food Chem, 139, 155-161.
- Nyam KL, Lau M, Tan CP (2013): Fibre from Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) Seeds and Rinds: Physico-chemical Properties, Antioxidant Capacity and Application as Bakery Product Ingredients. Mal J Nutr, 19, 99-109.
- Peiretti PG, Meineri G, Gai F, et al (2017): Antioxidative activities and phenolic compounds of pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) seeds and amaranth (Amaranthus caudatus) grain extracts. Nat Prod Res, 31, 2178-2182.
- Peng M, Lu D, Liu J, et al (2021): Effect of Roasting on the Antioxidant Activity, Phenolic Composition, and Nutritional Quality of Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) Seeds. Front Nutr, 8, 647354.
- Quesada-Granados JJ, Rufián-Henares JÁ, Chakradhari S, et al (2023): Comparative Analysis of Traditional Oriental Herbal Fruits as Potential Sources of Polyphenols and Minerals for Nutritional Supplements. Molecules, 28, 2682.
- Rakass S, Babiker HAA, Oudghiri-Hassani H (2018): Comparative evaluation of total phenolic content, total flavonoids content and antioxidants activity in skin and pulp extracts of Cucurbita maxima. Mor J Chem, 6, 218-222.
- Rezig L, Chouaibi M, Meddeb W, et al (2019): Chemical composition and bioactive compounds of Cucurbitaceae seeds: Potential sources for new trends of plant oils. Process Saf Environ, 127, 73-81.
- Scalzo J, Politi A, Pellegrini N, et al (2005): Plant genotype total antioxidant capacity and phenolic contents in fruit. Nutr, 21, 207-213.
- Siger A, Nogala-Kalucka M, Lampart-Szczapa E (2008): The content and antioxidant activity of phenolic compounds in cold-pressed plant oils. J Food Lipids, 15, 137-149.
- Solmaz M (2017): Kara turpun (Raphanus sativus l. niger) bazı biyoaktif bileşenlerinin ekstraksiyonu. Yüksek Lisans Tezi. Ondokuz Mayıs Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Enstitüsü, Samsun.
- Tuberoso CIG, Kowalczyk A, Sarritzu E, et al (2007): Determination of antioxidant compounds and anti-oxidant activity in commercial oil seeds for food use. Food Chem, 103, 1494-1501.
- Ullah SO, Khattak MMK, Shukri NM, et al (2014): Determination of total phenolic, flavonoid content and free radical scavenging activities of common herbs and spices. J Pharmacogn Phytochem, 3, 104-108.
- Vinayashree S, Hemakumar C, Veeranna RP, et al (2024): In Vitro Studies of Pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata var. Kashi Harit) Seed Protein Fraction(s) to Evaluate Anticancer and Antidiabetic Properties. Plant Foods Hum Nutr, 79, 632-640.
- Xanthopoulou MN, Nomikos T, Fragopoulou E, et al (2009): Antioxidant and lipoxygenase inhibitory activities of pumpkin seed extracts. Food Res Int, 42, 641-646.
There are 32 citations in total.
Details
| Primary Language | English |
|---|---|
| Subjects | Veterinary Biochemistry |
| Journal Section | Research Article |
| Authors | |
| Early Pub Date | June 16, 2025 |
| Publication Date | |
| Submission Date | September 26, 2024 |
| Acceptance Date | May 21, 2025 |
| Published in Issue | Year 2025Accepted Papers |