Variations in oil, protein, fatty acids and vitamin E contents of pumpkin seeds under deficit irrigation

Abstract

In the present study, pumpkin (Cucurbita Pepo L.) was grown under water stress to determine its effects on the chemical composition of the seeds (i.e., oil, protein, fatty acids and vitamin E), in Kayseri, Turkey. Irrigation treatments were designed to supply different portions of depleted moisture within the efficient root zone of the plants (60 cm). The treatments were arranged as supplying 100% (I100), 80% (I80), 60% (I60), 40% (I40), 20% (I20) and 0% (I0) of depleted moisture through a drip irrigation system. The effects of irrigation levels on the oil content of pumpkin seeds were found to be significant (p < 0.01). The oil contents of irrigation treatments varied between 26% (I0, dry) and 64% (I100, full irrigation). However, the effects of deficit irrigation on protein, fatty acids and vitamin E contents were not found to be significant. The vitamin E contents varied from 41.6 – 55.3 mg/100 g; while the protein contents varied from 28.5–37.7%. Six different fatty acids (linolenic, linoleic, oleic, stearic, palmitic and myristic acid) were examined. The average concentration of palmitic, stearic, oleic and linoleic acids ranged from 10.7–12.6%, 6.4–10.4%, 39.6–48.9% and 32.4–35%, respectively. Myristic and linolenic acids were not detected in the pumpkin seeds.

Investigation of chemical properties and bioactive compounds of oils from different pumpkin seeds (Cucurbita pepo L.) during maturation

“…Ermiş (2010) reported the highest protein values of pumpkin seeds in the literature as in the range of 30.77%–37.90% and that results are overlapped with our study. Kırnak et al (2019), Srbinoska et al (2012), Nyam et al (2009), Ardabili et al (2011), Meru et al (2018), Nawirska‐Olszanska et al (2013), Kim et al (2012) report lower protein rates from our study results. It has been observed that the protein ratios of pumpkin seeds are higher than other oil seeds.…”

Morphological and Chemical Differentiation between Tunisian Populations of Pinus halepensis, Pinus brutia, and Pinus pinaster

“…These results highlight the effect of climatic conditions on the concentration of vitamin E of P. halepensis . Indeed, the impact of genetic and environmental factors on the content and composition of oils and vitamins extracted from several plant species has been previously shown [29–34] …”

Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) Fruit Extract Attenuates Paraquat-induced Toxicity in Wister Rats

“…The utilization of medicinal plants and plant-derived products for therapeutic purpose is rapidly increasing and gaining attention globally because they exhibit little or no safety concern and their biofriendliness compared to synthetic medications. Cucurbita pepo (Pumpkin), an economically and nutritionally important fruitbearing vegetable belonging to the family Cucurbitaceae, is a reservoir of variety of nutrients and bioactive compounds such as unsaturated fatty acids, micro and macro minerals, α and γ tocopherols, β-carotene, proteins (albumin and globulins), vitamins and phytosterols [10][11][12][13][14].…”