Physicochemical Properties and Antioxidant Activity of the Seeds Oil of Two Cucurbita Species From Bejaia (Algeria): Comparative Study

Abstract

Cucurbita species are delicious, nutritious, and delightful products. Cucurbita seeds remain in large quantities as a waste product that could be valorized since they are excellent sources of oil. The aim of this study was to compare the seed oil of two Cucurbita species (Cucurbita pepo and Cucurbita moschata) harvested in Bejaia (Algeria). The oil quality was evaluated by the determination of some physicochemical parameters, and the content of phenolic compounds. The antiradical capacity of the antioxidants present in the oils was also assessed using two methods. The oil yield was 42.85% and 40.47% from the seeds of Cucurbita pepo and Cucurbita moschata, respectively. The determined physicochemical parameters were close to those defined by the international standards. The phenolic contents of the methanolic extracts of both oils were 5.53 and 4.45 mg GAE/100 g for Cucurbita moschata and Cucurbita pepo, respectively. The best anti-DPPH power was attributed to the oil of Cucurbita moschata (44.7%), while the methanolic extract of the seed oil of Cucurbita pepo showed the highest percentage (41.02%) of the ABTS•+ radical inhibition. By this study we confirmed that the Cucurbita seeds oil are highly nutritious and offer some medicinal benefits.