Edible Seeds From Cucurbitaceae Family as Potential Functional Foods: Immense Promises, Few Concerns

In 2017, a review highlighted the nutritional value and health benefits of edible seeds from the Cucurbitaceae family, including pumpkin, watermelon, and winter melon seeds. These seeds were found to be rich in beneficial nutrients and exhibited a range of biological properties such as antioxidant and anticancer effects. Pumpkin seed oil, in particular, was effective in treating benign prostatic hyperplasia at a dosage of 320 mg/day and showed potential in increasing hair counts in a study with a dosage of 400 mg/day over 24 weeks, indicating its usefulness in slowing down alopecia. Additionally, pumpkin seed oil extracts improved urinary health at a dosage of 10 g/day over 6-12 weeks. Despite these positive findings, the review also noted some risks like intestinal bezoar, allergies, cramps, and stomach pain associated with high consumption of these seeds. The review concluded that these seeds are underutilized and recommended further research to develop them into functional foods.