Some physical properties of pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) and watermelon (Citrullus lanatus L.) seeds were determined at a moisture content of 9.87% and 2.87% (dry basis), respectively. The mean values of length, width, thickness and geometric mean diameter were 19.92, 11.30, 3.22, 9.71 mm for pumpkin seeds, and 13.28, 8.00, 2.64, 6.52 mm for watermelon seeds, respectively. The mean 1000 seed mas...

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 β-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, fles...

This study was aimed at the investigation of the antioxidant effect of pumpkin seed oil against the oxidative stress-inducing potential of aflatoxin. For this purpose, 48 male BALB/c mice were used. Four groups, each comprising 12 mice, were established. Group 1 was maintained as the control group. Group 2 was administered with pumpkin seed oil alone at a dose of 1.5 mL/kg.bw/day (∼1375mg/kg.bw...

Ascorbate oxidase from pumpkin (Cucurbita sp.) was purified from a commercially available preparation. A single polypeptide band with M(r) 64,000 was detected after sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the purified enzyme. In double immunodiffusion tests, antiserum against the purified preparation formed a single precipitin line with the crude extract from pumpkin fruit t...

Pumpkin (Cucurbita spp.) has received considerable attention in recent years because of the nutritional and health-protective value of seed oil. The nutritional composition of pumpkin native to central Italy, locally known as "Berrettina" (Cucurbita maxima L.), was evaluated. In particular, the lipid fraction of seed oil was characterized, and the triacylglycerol (TAG) was thoroughly studied by...

A genomic clone encoding ascorbate oxidase was isolated from pumpkin (Cucurbita sp.). This gene is consisted of four exons and three introns. Analyses of the promoter fusion to beta-glucuronidase reporter gene by transient expression assay in pumpkin fruit tissues suggested the existence of a cis-acting region responsible for auxin regulation.

1. Reductions in natural habitat are implicated in declining honeybee Apis mellifera L. and wild bee populations, thereby threatening crop production. This concern has stimulated interest in identifying landscape-level impacts on bee-mediated pollination services, but previous studies have only inferred connections between landscape, bees and yield through generalized linear regressions. 2. We ...

Rectal seed bezoars are an uncommon cause of fecal impaction, particularly in the United States. Although the literature has reported several cases of phytobezoars composed of various types of seeds, bezoars formed of pumpkin seeds have rarely been reported. We report a case of a man, aged 62 years, with a rectal bezoar composed of pumpkin seeds with complications necessitating extensive treatm...