Cucurbita pepo
Field pumpkin
Cucurbita pepo, commonly known as pumpkin, squash, or zucchini, is a versatile medicinal plant belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family. Rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, its seeds and flesh offer therapeutic benefits, supporting digestive health, immune function, and heart wellness through their potent nutrient density and bioactive compounds.
- Scientific name: Cucurbita pepo
- Family: Cucurbitaceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Cucurbitales, it is classified under the family Cucurbitaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Cucurbita, which includes the species Cucurbita pepo.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Cucurbitales | WCVP |
| Family | Cucurbitaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Cucurbita | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Cucurbita pepo, is recognized by various regional names across different languages and cultures. In Switzerland, it is referred to as Gartenkürbis (de-ch), while in Bashkortostan, it is called Ҡабаҡ (ba). It carries the name Zucchetta in Corsican (co), and in Czech, it is identified as tykev obecná (cs). Additionally, in Kashubian, this species is known as Zwëczajnô bania (csb).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| de-ch | Gartenkürbis | Wikidata |
| ba | Ҡабаҡ | Wikidata |
| co | Zucchetta | Wikidata |
| cs | tykev obecná | Wikidata |
| csb | Zwëczajnô bania | Wikidata |
| eml | Süchëin | Wikidata |
| eo | Kukurbeto | Wikidata |
| es | calabacín | Wikidata |
| et | harilik kõrvits | Wikidata |
| fa | کدو تخم پوست کاغذی | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant, Cucurbita pepo, exhibits a specific distribution across several regions in Northern Europe. It can be found growing within the borders of Denmark. Additionally, its presence extends to the northern territories of Finland. The species is also documented throughout Great Britain. Finally, its geographical range encompasses the nations of Norway and Sweden.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Denmark | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Finland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Norway | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Sweden | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Belgium | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Czechia-Slovakia | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Germany | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | France | WCVP |
| Southeastern Europe | Albania | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Cucurbita pepo, offers a diverse range of therapeutic components that can be utilized for various health benefits. The nutrient-dense seeds are highly valued for their ability to support prostate health and provide essential minerals, while the pumpkin peel can be processed to retain dietary fiber and antioxidants. From the plant's fats, pumpkin oils are extracted to serve as potent topical or dietary supplements rich in vitamin E and fatty acids. Furthermore, the reproductive biology of the plant includes pollen, which is often studied for its nutritional profile, and the leaf extract, which is frequently utilized in traditional medicine for its potential antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties.- Total parts
- 6
- Scientific sources
- 8
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| seeds | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| pumpkin peel | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| pumpkin oils | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| pollen | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf extract | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fruit | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Cucurbita pepo has 37 reported phytochemicals identified across 48 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include fatty acids, linoleic acid, oleic acid, flavonoids, phytosterols.
- Total chemicals
- 37
- Scientific sources
- 48
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| fatty acids | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| linoleic acid | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| oleic acid | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| flavonoids | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| phytosterols | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| polyunsaturated fatty acids | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| squalene | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tocopherols | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| CAT | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| GPX | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Cucurbita pepo has 9 reported activities identified across 20 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Antidiabetic, Antimicrobial, Antiproliferative.
- Total activities
- 9
- Scientific sources
- 20
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | 7 | ★★★★☆ |
| Antibacterial | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antidiabetic | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiproliferative | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antihypertensive | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimalarial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antitumor | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Bacteriostatic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Cucurbita pepo has 38 reported medicinal uses identified across 40 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include benign prostatic hyperplasia, lower urinary tract symptoms, Bacillus cereus, Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, Candida albicans.
- Total uses
- 38
- Scientific sources
- 40
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| benign prostatic hyperplasia | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| lower urinary tract symptoms | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Bacillus cereus | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Candida albicans | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Diabetes mellitus | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Escherichia coli | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Sleeplessness | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Staphylococcus aureus | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Toxoplasma gondii | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |