This leaf’s title translatesinto Latin as “Cucurbita maxima”, the botanical name for the pumpkin. Theycertainly live up to their name with the largest on record exceeding a tonne inweight (https://gpc1.org/gpc-champions/guinness-records/guinness-pumpkins/) . With31st October coming up, there will be a lot of pumpkins around rightnow in some countries!
The genus Cucurbita includes other gourds, squashes and courgettes. It is part of the Cucurbitaceae botanical family that includes melons and cucumbers.
The pumpkin appears to haveoriginated in South America and been cultivated for several thousand years as avaluable foodstuff. It is an excellent source of dietary minerals and severalvitamins, particularly the orange ones (Vitamin A/β-carotene; 100g servingprovides over half the recommended daily dose). The seeds are rich in proteinand healthy oils.
Yada et al (2010) have reviewed the medicinal potential of pumpkin and its phytochemicals. Like most plants it has a large assortment of phenolics, providing anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities. It attracts particular attention as a source of anti-diabetic phytoactives.
Gaweł-Bęben et al (2022) focus on dermatological uses of pumpkin and butternut squash peel extracts. The extracts were found to inhibit the enzyme tyrosinase, rhus blocking a key step in pigment synthesis, thus showing potential for treating blotchy skin. They also appear to have a potentially useful “sun protection factor (SPF). They attribute these activitiesto polyphenols and flavonoids in the extracts.
Now some of you readers, particularly the Americans may be celebrating the coming week, with carved-outpumpkins as Jack-o'-lanterns.
Here in Israel we are feeling much more somber right now, and can maybe use a comforting latte, and can maybe spice it up with “pumpkin spice”, which is a pumpkin-less blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves and allspice used in pumpkin pie.
Further reading
🎃 Wikipedia (2023). Pumpkin. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pumpkin&oldid=1182007698
🎃 Yadav M et al (2010).Medicinal and biological potential of pumpkin: an updated review. Nutr Res Rev. 23(2), 184–190. http://doi.org/10.1017/S0954422410000107
🎃 Gaweł-Bęben K et al (2022). Assessment of Cucurbita spp. Peel Extracts as Potential Sources of Active Substances for Skin Care and Dermatology. Molecules 27(21), 7618. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27217618
