A review on biochemical constituents of pumpkin and their role as pharma foods; a key strategy to improve health in post COVID 19 period

Abstract

Progression of today’s world has been given setback due to the adversity of a novel, viral, deadly outbreak COVID 19, which raised the concerns of the scientists, researchers and health related officials about the inherent and adaptive immune system of the living body and its relation with healthy diet balanced with pharma foods. Now world is coming out of the destructive pandemic era, the choice of right food can help to build and boost adaptive immunity and pumpkin due to excellent profile of functional and nutraceutical constituents could be the part of both infected and non-infected person’s daily diet. Vitamins like A, C and E, minerals like zinc, iron and selenium, essential oils, peptides, carotenoids and polysaccharides present in pumpkin could accommodate the prevailing deficiencies in the body to fought against the viral pathogens. In current post COVID 19 scenario adequate supply of healthy diet, balanced with pharma foods could play a basic role in boosting immune system of the populations. This review covers the pharmacological activities of pumpkin functional constituents in relation with COVID 19 pandemic. Pumpkins are well equipped with nutraceuticals and functional bioactives like tocopherols, polyphenols, terpenoids and lutein therefore, consumption and processing of this remarkable vegetable could be encouraged as pharma food due to its antihyperlipidemic, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antihyperglycemic, immunomodulatory, antihypertensive, antimicrobial and antioxidant potential. Need of healthy eating in current post COVID 19 period is very crucial for healthy population, and medicinal foods like pumpkin could play a vital role in developing a healthy community around the globe. Graphical Abstract

Evaluation of the Phytochemical and Medicinal Value of Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus), by Conversion into Powders and Extracts to Develop a Nutritional Bakery Product

“…Lemongrass extracts, when applied to animals, exhibited hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activities, which might be attributed to the bioactive components present in this medicinal herb. 6 Boeira et al 17 extracted bioactive components from lemongrass and incorporated them in meat products to check their antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. They stated that phenolics and flavonoids are the major bioactive compounds responsible for such medicinal properties.…”

“…16 Due to their qualities as anticancer, antiviral, calming, anti-microbial, as well as, allopathic properties, phenolics and flavonoids are two types of polyphenols present in lemongrass, which have exhibited antioxidant and antimicrobial behavior in chicken sausages. 17 As the world emerges from the destructive pandemic period, eating the right foods can help to develop and strengthen adaptive immunity. Plant-based foods, due to the presence of functional and nutraceutical components, are a useful part of a daily diet.…”

“…For such purposes, recent advances have been made including, the manufacture of functional yoghurt with lemongrass extracts, 22 the development of lemongrass-flavored high-nutrient cookies, 23, 24 and the production of lemongrass-incorporated meat sausages. 17 Compared with previous food product development, in current studies comparatively high levels of LGP were investigated for the development of nutritional biscuits, which were analyzed for phytochemical and sensory characteristics. To fulfil the need for healthy, pharma foods, the objectives of the current research were to convert lemongrass leaves into powder and then into ethanolic extracts for estimation of phytochemical composition.…”

Recent Advances in Phytochemical-Based Topical Applications for the Management of Eczema: A Review

“…Previous studies in DNCB-induced mouse models have demonstrated that purslane lowers serum IgE, mast cell levels, and histamine skin concentration, potentially through its targeting of IFN-γ, TNFα, and IL-4 [67]. Pumpkin pulp is rich in β-carotene, fatty acids, moisture, and flavonoids and has proven that it can be used for many skin disorders such as dermatitis, and that it can be given orally or topically [68]. Application of pumpkin pulp extract as an ointment improved AD patient DLQI scores within four weeks [69].…”