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About:
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Oil from pumpkin seeds
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Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) is an annual climber and is in flower from July to
September, and the seeds ripen from August to October [1]. Pumpkin seeds oil is an
extraordinarily rich source of diverse bioactive compounds having functional properties
used as edible oil or as a potential nutraceutical. In recent years, several studies have
highlighted the medical properties of pumpkin seed oil which is known as strongly
dichromatic viscous oil [2]. Researchers have so far focused particularly on the
composition and content of fatty acids, tocopherols and sterols in pumpkin seed oil
because of their positive health effects [3–5]. Moreover, pumpkin has gained attention as
an exceptional protective against many diseases, e. g. hypertension and carcinogenic
diseases [6, 7]; due to its health benefits such as antidiabetic [8], antibacterial [9],
antioxidant and anti-inflammation [4]. The determination of the biochemical and oxidative
stability properties of <a href="http://www.dljhbros.com/raw-matierial-pumpkin-seeds/"
target="_self">raw material pumpkin seeds</a> oil would contribute to the valorization of
such oil especially in pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries.
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Although much progress has been reached in the domain of modern medicine, we still
notice the lack of efficient wounds healing treatments. The demand for natural remedies is
rising in developing countries [10] as natural substances may be effective, safe and cheap
[11]. Basic research has improved our understanding of enhancement and inhibition of wound
healing and has given the basis for introduction of novel treatment methods [12].
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In this respect, the proprieties of Cucurbita pepo L. extracted oil have captured our
interest. Despite all the proprieties of the pumpkin oil, and to the best of our
knowledge, there is no investigation of this oil in wound healing potential. To this end,
the current study aims to identify some physico-chemical aspects of the bioactive
components of <a href="http://www.dljhbros.com/raw-matierial-pumpkin-seeds/snow-white-
pumpkin-seeds/" target="_self">snow white pumpkin seeds</a> oil as well as to highlight
its hemostatic and healing potential effects on wound.
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The pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) var. Bejaoui seeds were harvested in region of Sidi
Bouzid (Centre of Tunisia). The seeds were authenticated at the National Botanical
Research Institute Tunisia (INRAT) and the voucher sample was deposited at INRAT. The
fixed oil was extracted by the first cold pressure from seeds using a mechanical oil press
(SMIR, MUV1 65). However, “Cicaflora cream®” a repairing emulsion with 10 % of Mimosa
Tenuiflora, was served as a reference drug from the local pharmacy. The remaining
chemicals used were of analytical grade.
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The present study aimed to examine the effect of pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) seeds
supplementation on atherogenic diet-induced atherosclerosis. Rat were divided into two
main groups , normal control and atherogenic control rats , each group composed of three
subgroups one of them supplemented with 2% arginine in drinking water and the other
supplemented with pumpkin seeds in diet at a concentration equivalent to 2% arginine.
Supplementation continued for 37 days. Atherogenic rats supplemented with pumpkin seeds
showed a significant decrease (p<0.001) in their serum concentrations of total
cholesterol and LDL — C as they dropped from 4.89 mmol / L to 2.55 mmol /L and from 3.33
mmol / L to 0.70 mmol / L respectively. Serum concentrations of HDL-C were also
significantly elevated in the same group. Although, atherogenic rats supplemented with 2%
arginine showed significant increase in serum concentration of HDL-C, no significant
changes were observed in their serum concentrations of total cholesterol and LDL-C. Our
results showed that treatment of atherogenic rats with pumpkin seeds significantly
decreased serum concentrations of TC and LDL-C. Our findings suggest that pumpkin seeds
supplementation has a protective effect against atherogenic rats and this protective
effect was not attributed to the high arginine concentrations in <a
href="http://www.dljhbros.com/raw-matierial-pumpkin-seeds/shine-skin-pumpkin-seeds/"
target="_self">shine skin pumpkin seeds</a>.
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