Pumpkin is an important vegetable, which has potential to be used as medicinal and functional food. Not only the pulp but also the peel and seeds of pumpkin are good sources of phytochemicals and minerals. Pumpkin peel, flesh, and seeds were dried to obtain powders, and 80% of methanolic extracts were prepared for further analyses. Among three fractions of pumpkin, higher content of total phenolics (224.61 ± 1.60‐mg GAE/100‐g powder) and total flavonoids (139.37 ± 1.07‐mg CE/100‐g powder) were recorded in pumpkin seeds as compared with peel and flesh, whereas higher carotenoids (35.2 ± 0.49 mg/100‐g powder) and β‐carotene (6.18 ± 0.04 mg/100‐g powder) were present in pumpkin flesh extract, when compared with peel and seeds. Pumpkin flesh, as compared with peel and seeds, contained higher values of Na, K, and Fe (17.87 ± 0.22, 1592 ± 20.3, and 41.50 ± 0.45 mg/100‐g powder, respectively). Valuable amount of Zn (15.21 ± 0.07 mg/100‐g powder) was present in pumpkin seeds powder. Practical applications Pumpkin parts (peel, flesh, and seeds) own high nutritional significance due to the presence of total phenolics, flavonoids, total carotenoids, and appreciable amount of macroelements and microelements. Organic waste generated as a result of pumpkin processing could effectively be utilized in different food products for the development of functional and medicinal foods. Notably, pumpkin seeds are high in zinc content, and in this situation of COVID‐19 pandemic, scientific community is well aware of oxidation and mediating role of zinc for activation of enzymes in the body. Phytochemicals present in pumpkin peel, flesh, and seeds can fight against antiaging and enhance immunity. These low‐cost powders from pumpkin parts can be used as a potential source of functional foods and nutraceuticals in food and medicinal industries.

The present study investigates the antidiabetic potential of polyphenol extracts purified from guava pulp, seeds and leaves using an in vivo experiment on albino rats. The polyphenols from guava pulp, seeds and leaves were extracted using methanol solvent and the sonication method while being evaluated by total phenolic contents and radical scavenging activity assay. The proximate composition of powders revealed that ash, protein and total sugars were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in leaves and seeds, while vitamin C was highest in pulp. Total phenolic and antioxidant activities were highest in pulp followed by leaves and seeds. The findings of feed intake and body gain revealed that the supplementation of polyphenols, especially from pulp, significantly (p < 0.05) increased the feed intake, which resulted in increased body weight. Moreover, total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels were significantly (p < 0.05) decreased, while the level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) was increased in groups fed with polyphenols from guava pulp compared to both (+ive and –ive) control groups. Furthermore, blood glucose and triglycerides were significantly (p < 0.05) decreased in supplemented groups compared to the control group of diabetes mice, which resulted in the inhibition of α-amylase and glucose transport. Besides this, packed cell volume (PCV), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), hemoglobin, red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs) and platelet levels were increased significantly (p < 0.05) in pulp’s extract followed by leaves and seeds compared to both control groups. Overall, the antidiabetic potential of different extracts was in the following order: pulp > leaves > seeds. The findings suggest the feasibility of adding 200–250 mg/kg.bw of polyphenol extracts of pulp as an alternative to diabetic drugs.

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The study was conducted to analyse the relationship of academic self-efficacy to self-regulated learning, school identification, test anxiety and academic achievement at secondary school level. Another purpose was to examine whether self-efficacy and school identification predict academic achievement or not. Four instruments were administered to a sample of 426 students of Grade 10 (205 boys, and 221 girls). Results revealed significant correlation between the variables. Strongest relationship was found between students’ academic self-efficacy and self-efficacy for self-regulation. Self-efficacy beliefs at academic domain level were found contributing significantly to the prediction of academic achievement. Significant gender differences were not found on measures of self-efficacy beliefs at academic domain level, school identification, and anxiety. Girls’ academic achievement was found better than the boys’ achievement. Boys were reported better than girls on measure of self-efficacy for self-regulated learning.