Phytochemical, Nutritional and Antioxidant Properties of Pumpkin Leaf and Fruit (Cucurbita maxima) From Bosso Niger State.

Abstract

Cucurbita maxima commonly known as pumpkin, is widely cultivated throughout the world for use as vegetable as well as medicine plant. Phytochemical analysis, nutritional and antioxidant properties of Cucurbita maxima leaf and fruit methanol extracts were determined in this study. The phytochemical and proximate analysis were performed according to standard method. The antioxidant activity was carried out using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). The qualitative phytochemical screening of Cucurbita maxima fruit and leaf revealed that Alkaloids (9.07±0.01), Tannins (4.32±0.01), and terpenoids (8.64±0.01) were found to have the highest concentration in the fruit while saponins (8.64±0.01), flavonoids (3.86±0.01) and steroids (3.86±0.01) were found to be higher in the leaf. The proximate composition of pumpkin leaf and fruit showed significant difference in moisture (10.65 ± 0.04) (8.07 ± 0.01), fibre (2.03 ± 0.03) (4.16 ± 0.03), ash contents (3.08 ± 0.08) (2.17 ± 0.05), fat (5.12 ± 0.20) (2.07 ± 0.20), (67.99± 0.03) (73.12± 0.01), and protein (10.580.06) (9.72± 0.07) of the pumpkin leaf and fruit respectively. Both extracts exhibited a dose dependent antioxidant activity in DPPH and FRAP assays. The Cucurbita maxima extracts exhibited significantly (p < 0.05) lower antioxidant activities compared to the standard (ascorbic acid). The results of mineral analysis of pumpkin shows that potassium (48.79±0.01 mg/g) and iron (33.60±0.00 mg/g) contents were higher in the pumpkin methanol fruit extract, followed by sodium (17.88±0.04 mg/g) while potassium (41.57±0.04 mg/g) and zinc (22.30±0.15 mg/g) was the most prominent element followed by iron (8.14±0.00 mg/g) in the pumpkin methanol leaf extract. These results suggest that Cucurbita maxima could serve as a valuable source of nutrients and antioxidants, particularly in resource-constrained communities.