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Variability in chemical profile and bioactivities of the flesh of greek pumpkin landraces

Publication . Leichtweis, Maria Gabriela; Molina, Adriana K.; Dias, Maria Inês; Calhelha, Ricardo C.; Pires, Tânia C.S.P.; Pavli, Ourania; Oliveira, Beatriz; Petropoulos, Spyridon Α.; Barros, Lillian; Pereira, Carla

The aim of this study was to evaluate the chemical profile of the flesh and yield parameters of Greek pumpkin genotypes, including nine local landraces and two commercially available cultivars, focusing on valorizing the genetic pool of Cucurbita sp. with high added value products. Yield parameters (mean fruit weight and total fruit yield) recorded high variability with genotypes V8 and V2 showing the highest fruit yield. Moreover, genotype V11 was the most abundant in glucose and total sugars and scored the highest sweetness index suggesting good taste and promising marketing attributes. The highest antioxidant activity (OxHLIA assay) was assessed in the V8 genotype, while the V2 genotype showed the highest -, - and total tocopherols content. Oxalic acid was the main organic acid, followed by malic and citric acids, while organic acid composition varied among the tested genotypes. Moreover, the flesh extracts showed varied antimicrobial activity against several bacteria and fungi, while no toxicity against non-tumor cells was recorded. In conclusion, our results make evident the presence of high innate variability in terms of crop performance, chemical composition and bioactive properties not only between the different genotypes but also at the intrapopulational level. This finding is of high importance for the valorization of the local genetic pool of Cucurbita species through the selection of elite genotypes with high yield and quality of fruit, contributing to the conservation of valuable genetic material and limitation of the risk of genetic erosion due to neglect of local landraces.

2023Journal article

Open access

Valorisation of pumpkin by-products: Chemical composition and bioactive properties of pumpkin seeds, peels, and fibrous strands from different local landraces of Greece

Publication . Leichtweis, Maria G.; Molina, Adriana K.; Dias, Maria Inês; Calhelha, Ricardo C.; Pires, Tânia C.S.P.; Pavli, Ourania; Oliveira, Beatriz; Ferreira, Isabel C.F.R.; Petropoulos, Spyridon A.; Barros, Lillian; Pereira, Carla

This study evaluated the fruit by-products (peels, seeds, and fibrous strands) from 11 pumpkin genotypes cultivated in Greece aiming to valorize them as natural sources of bioactive compounds. Five compounds, including ( )-epicatechin and chicoric acid isomers, were identified in peels, while seeds and fibrous strands mainly contained ( )-epicatechin. Organic acids and tocopherols varied significantly among genotypes, with oxalic, quinic, and malic acids being predominant. Total tocopherols content (mg/100 g) ranged up to 7.38 ± 0.03 in fibrous strands, 30.7 ± 0.2 in peels, and 14.58 ± 0.09 in seeds. Extracts exhibited potent antioxidant activity, particularly the seeds of genotypes “V5” and “V6”, and strong antimicrobial effects, notably the peels of “V2 T" and “V11”, which showed significant inhibition of microbial strains. These findings contribute to the advancement of sustainable practices in the agro-industrial waste management, as well as to the production of functional natural ingredients for various industrial applications

2025Journal article

Open access