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Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Metabolites

Bioactive Compounds from Cucurbita spp. and Their Processing By-Products: A Critical Review

  • Bela Kolarš1,2
  • Ivana Minaković1,2
  • Milana Bosanac3
  • Nemanja Gvozdenović4,5
  • Jovanka Milak6,7
  • Nemanja Petrović7,8
  • Vesna Mijatović Jovin9
9 affiliations
  1. 1Department of General Medicine and Geriatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
  2. 2Health Center “Novi Sad”, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
  3. 3Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
  4. 4Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
  5. 5Clinic for Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology, University Clinical Center of Vojvodina, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
  6. 6Clinic of Nephrology and Clinical Immunology, University Clinical Center of Vojvodina, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
  7. 7Doctoral Academic Studies, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
  8. 8Clinic of Cardiovascular Surgery, Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases of Vojvodina, 21208 Sremska Kamenica, Serbia
  9. 9Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
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Abstract

Pumpkin (Cucurbita spp.) processing generates peels, seeds, seed coats, pomace, and press cakes containing carotenoids, phenolics, proteins, unsaturated lipids, tocopherols, phytosterols, polysaccharides, and dietary fiber. This critical narrative review integrates composition and analytical characterization across anatomical fractions with extraction technologies, processing effects, biological evidence, and application readiness. Conventional extraction, pressing, supercritical carbon dioxide, deep eutectic solvents, enzyme-assisted extraction, ultrasound, microwaves, pulsed electric fields, and high-pressure homogenization differ in selectivity, recovery, and scalability. The reviewed evidence does not establish the environmental superiority of green extraction technologies without full process-level assessment. Processing can improve extractability or simulated bioaccessibility but also cause degradation or losses; concentration following water removal does not establish true retention. Experimental studies support potential antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, glycemia-related, antimicrobial, and antiproliferative activities, but most evidence remains chemical, cellular, or animal-based. Human evidence is preparation-specific and most developed for lower urinary tract symptoms; controlled evidence for glycemic and other systemic outcomes remains limited or inconsistent. Near-term opportunities include food ingredients, oils, protein fractions, pigment delivery, and selected packaging materials. Translation requires authenticated materials, validated analytical fingerprints, standardized preparations, safety and stability testing, adequately powered clinical trials for health-related claims, and mass, energy, economic, and life-cycle assessments.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{kolars2026bioactive,
  title = {{Bioactive Compounds from Cucurbita spp. and Their Processing By-Products: A Critical Review}},
  author = {Bela Kolarš and Ivana Minaković and Milana Bosanac and Nemanja Gvozdenović and Jovanka Milak and Nemanja Petrović and Vesna Mijatović Jovin},
  journal = {Metabolites},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.3390/metabo16100754},
  url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/16/10/754},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Bioactive Compounds from Cucurbita spp. and Their Processing By-Products: A Critical Review
AU  - Bela Kolarš
AU  - Ivana Minaković
AU  - Milana Bosanac
AU  - Nemanja Gvozdenović
AU  - Jovanka Milak
AU  - Nemanja Petrović
AU  - Vesna Mijatović Jovin
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/01
JO  - Metabolites
DO  - 10.3390/metabo16100754
UR  - https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/16/10/754
AB  - Pumpkin (Cucurbita spp.) processing generates peels, seeds, seed coats, pomace, and press cakes containing carotenoids, phenolics, proteins, unsaturated lipids, tocopherols, phytosterols, polysaccharides, and dietary fiber. This critical narrative review integrates composition and analytical characterization across anatomical fractions with extraction technologies, processing effects, biological evidence, and application readiness. Conventional extraction, pressing, supercritical carbon dioxide, deep eutectic solvents, enzyme-assisted extraction, ultrasound, microwaves, pulsed electric fields, and high-pressure homogenization differ in selectivity, recovery, and scalability. The reviewed evidence does not establish the environmental superiority of green extraction technologies without full process-level assessment. Processing can improve extractability or simulated bioaccessibility but also cause degradation or losses; concentration following water removal does not establish true retention. Experimental studies support potential antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, glycemia-related, antimicrobial, and antiproliferative activities, but most evidence remains chemical, cellular, or animal-based. Human evidence is preparation-specific and most developed for lower urinary tract symptoms; controlled evidence for glycemic and other systemic outcomes remains limited or inconsistent. Near-term opportunities include food ingredients, oils, protein fractions, pigment delivery, and selected packaging materials. Translation requires authenticated materials, validated analytical fingerprints, standardized preparations, safety and stability testing, adequately powered clinical trials for health-related claims, and mass, energy, economic, and life-cycle assessments.
SN  - 2218-1989
ER  -