Appearance/form: green or red liquid, pleasant nutty aroma

Saponification value NaOH: 0.138

Saponification value KOH: 0.193 

INCI name (PCPC) : Cucurbita pepo

CAS No: 8016-49-7

Iodine Value:

Family: Cucurbitaceae

Introduction 

Pumpkin seed oil is extracted with the help of solvents from the seeds of the pumpkin plant. This winter squash is native to America, Canada, and Europe and grown abundantly in India and China. The fleshy shell and the leaves are used as ingredients in a variety of recipes because they are rich in fibre and nutrients. The seeds, also known as pepitas, are edible and are sold as popular snacks due to their rich protein, magnesium and zinc content (1). 

Pumpkin seed oil is considered a local delicacy in the region of Styria, Austria, where it is called "green gold" due to its characteristic colour (2). 

Physical and Chemical Characteristics 

Pumpkin seed oil is a dichromatic oil, which means that it appears green when seen in thin layers, but can appear red when observed in thick layers. It is extracted from roasted pumpkin seeds with the help of solvents.  It is flavourful, has a rich nutty taste, and is used as a salad dressing or cooking oil. It is widely available as edible supplements and is frequently found as an ingredient in hair masks and serums.  

Health Benefits of Internal Use 

Pumpkin seed oil has high levels of unsaturated fatty acids like linoleic acid, which greatly benefit heart health. It also moderates blood sugar levels (4)

The oil contains phytosterols, which block cholesterol absorption, thereby decreasing its levels in the blood (5). It is rich in carotenoids, which in addition to imparting its characteristic red colour, is also an antioxidant that protects human cells against inflammation and damage (6). 

Preliminary studies show that pumpkin seed oil decreases incidents of hot flashes, headaches and joint pain while improving good cholesterol or HDL levels in menopausal women (7). 

People with overactive bladders often experience discomfort while urinating, which impacts their quality of life. Studies have shown that treatment with pumpkin seed oil can improve these symptoms (8). Men with prostate hyperplasia or a benign prostate gland enlargement commonly present with decreased urine flow. Studies have demonstrated that treatment with pumpkin seed oil improved their urine flow and reduced the amount of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a biomarker for this condition, in their blood (9). 

Skin and Hair Care Benefits 

Pumpkin seed oil has been used as a natural remedy for hair loss in men with mild to moderate androgenetic alopecia. A study revealed that men treated with pumpkin seed oil perceived that their hair count increased by 40% compared to a 10% improvement seen in those treated with a placebo (10). 

Conclusion

With its health benefits, pumpkin seed is used as a natural remedy for many conditions and is an active ingredient in hair care products like masks or serums.

References  

1.                  Procida, G.; Stancher, B.; Cateni, F.; Zacchigna, M. (2013). "Chemical composition and functional characterization of commercial pumpkin seed oil". Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture. 93 (5): 1035–41. doi:10.1002/jsfa.5843. PMID 22936573.

2.                  Ref: https://www.saveur.com/story/food/styrian-pumpkin-seeds/

3.                  Stevenson, D. G.; Eller, F. J.; Wang, L.; Jane, J.; Wang, T.; Inglett, G. E. (2007). "Oil and Tocopherol Content and Composition of Pumpkin Seed Oil in 12 Cultivars". Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 55 (10): 4005–4013.

4.                  Ref: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31785494/

5.                  Ref: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/17368-phytosterols-sterols--stanols

6.                  Siano F, Straccia MC, Paolucci M, Fasulo G, Boscaino F, Volpe MG. Physico-chemical properties and fatty acid composition of pomegranate, cherry and pumpkin seed oils. J Sci Food Agric. 2016 Mar 30;96(5):1730-5.

7.                  Gosnell-Williams M, Hyde C, Hunter T, et al. Improvement in HDL cholesterol in postmenopausal women supplemented with pumpkin seed oil: a pilot study. Climacteric. 2011;14(5):558-64.

8.                  Nishimura M, Ohkawara T, Sato H, et al. Pumpkin seed oil extracted from Cucurbita maxima improves urinary disorder in human overactive bladder. J Tradit Complement Med. 2014;4(1):72-4.

9.                  Hong H, Kim CS, Maeng S. Effects of pumpkin seed oil and saw palmetto oil in Korean men with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia. Nutr Res Pract. 2009;3(4):323-327.

10.             Cho YH, Lee SY, Jeong DW, et al. Effect of pumpkin seed oil on hair growth in men with androgenetic alopecia: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2014; 2014:549721.