Chimie médicale

Review of Cucurbita pepo (Pumpkin) its Phytochemistry and Pharmacology

Abstract

Rosa Martha Perez Gutierrez

Cucurbita pepo, is widely used like food and in folk medicine around of the world. This aims a comprehensive of the pharmacological, chemical constituents, and clinical uses. Also have been identified the medicinally important phyto-constituents belonging mainly to cucurbitosides, multiflorane-type triterpenoids, carotenoids, ent-kauranetype diterpene, and cucurbitaglycosides. Extracts and metabolites of this plant, particularly those from seeds and fruits possess useful pharmacological activities. A survey of the literature shows C. pepo, is mainly known for its improvement in prostatic hiperplasia (BPH), urinary dysfunction and cytotoxic properties, also has also been used extensively as a hypoglycaemic agent. Many pharmacological studies have demonstrated hepatoprotection, inhibit benign prostatic hiperplasia, antioxidant, anticancer, antimicrobial, antiinflamatory, antidiabetic, and antiulcer activities supporting its traditional uses.