Pumpkin

Information
Application
Notes
References

Photo: Sertürner Bildarchiv

Botanical name

Cucurbita pepo L.

Family

Cucurbitaceae

Common name

Squash, Ornamental Gourd

Information about the plant

The common pumpkin is a species that comes in many different shapes, but these forms cannot always be geographically localized. There are two subspecies: the subspecies pepo, which includes all cultivated forms, and the subspecies texana. The latter is widespread in central and southern Texas and is probably the original form of the species Cucurbita pepo.

The genus name Cucurbita is probably derived from the ancient Indian word ‘Carbhatah’ (= cucumber), with subsequent reduplication (cu-curbita). In combination with the species epithet pepo, it means ‘ripe cucumber’ (Greek ‘pepon’ = ripe, soft, tender).

Pumpkins are now cultivated worldwide. Their fruits are among the largest in the plant kingdom and can weigh up to 25 kg. Botanically, they are berries, also known as “armored berries”, because of their hard outer rind. The flesh is yellow and spongy, containing numerous pointed-oval, flattened, white-greenish or light brown seeds up to 2 cm long. Depending on the variety, they may have a soft seed coat or no coat at all. The pumpkin flesh is used as a vegetable or pickled sweet and sour, while the seeds are used to produce green pumpkin seed oil with a nutty aroma. The pumpkin’s shoots, which are over 10 m long, crawl along the ground or climb using tendrils. The stems are rough-haired and bear large, palmately lobed leaves arranged alternately. Large, funnel-shaped yellow male and female flowers emerge from the leaf axils.

Medicinally used parts of plants (herbal drug)

The whole, dried, ripe seeds (pumpkin seeds - Cucurbitae semen) are used.

The drug is imported from Eastern European countries, Austria, Hungary, and Mexico.

Constituents of the herbal drug

Pumpkin seeds contain fatty oil, proteins, carbohydrates, phytosterols, and tocopherols.

Quality of the drug

The quality of pumpkin seeds (Cucurbitae semen) is specified in the European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.).

Medical applications

Recognised medical use

The HMPC has classified pumpkin seeds as a traditional herbal medicinal product (see “Traditional use”).

ESCOP: For micturition problems (painful urination, frequent bladder emptying, nocturnal urinary urgency, urinary retention, residual urine formation) associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH, also known as benign prostatic syndrome – BPS) – stages I to II according to Alken or stages II and III according to Vahlensieck – and for the treatment of irritable bladder.

Indications supported by clinical studies (approval): For the treatment of involuntary urine flow at night.

Traditional use

Pumpkin seeds have been classified by the HMPC as a traditional herbal medicinal product (Article 16a of Directive 2001/83/EC). Based upon long-standing use, pumpkin seeds can be used to treat urinary tract complaints associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or an irritable bladder.

Herbal drug preparations in finished dosage forms

Powdered pumpkin seeds in capsules and tablets
Dry extracts in capsules and tablets
Soft extract in capsules
Pumpkin seed oil in capsules

Dosage

Finished medicinal products: See patient information leaflet.

Tea made from pumpkin seeds is not recommended. In the morning and evening, 1 to 2 tablespoons (10 to 20 g) of pumpkin seeds should be ground or chewed and taken with liquid.