Pumpkin Seed Oil

Botanical Name of Pumpkin Seed:  Curcurbita pepo

Synonyms:  Kernöl or Kürbiskernöl, bučno olje, bučino ulje or bundevino ulje

About Pumpkin Seed: Pumpkin is a gourd like squash with a thick orange or yellow shell. Inside this shell (which is not so hard) there is pulp and its seeds. The name of ‘curcurbita pepo’ has originated from a Greek word ‘pepon’ which means ‘large melon’. The weight and size of pumpkins can vary from roughly 1 pound to 1000 pounds. The stem of a pumpkin is more rigid and prickly when compared to that of a squash. Pumpkin plant bears both male and female flowers on a single plant.  Interestingly the life of pumpkin flowers is very short and they last only for a day.

History of Pumpkin Seed: Nothing can be claimed with conviction with regards to location of origin of pumpkins. It is widely believed that these were origination somewhere in North America. The oldest historical evidence in form of pumpkin seeds were traced way back to between 7000 and 5500 BC. Native Americans are the first ones to have discovered therapeutic properties of pumpkins and used them for both dietary and medicinal applications. The cultivation of pumpkins is done in 6 out 7 continents. Today’s leading producers of pumpkins include America, Mexico, India and China.

Properties of Pumpkin Seed Oil: Roasted and hulled pumpkin seeds are used to extract pumpkin seed essential oil. The oil is viscous and its colour ranges from very faint red to bright red. This essential oil is rich source of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Major chemical compounds that constitute pumpkin seed essential oil include: Oleic Acid, Myristic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Palmitoleic Acid, Stearic Acid, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic acid, Arachidic Acid, Gadoleic Acid, Behenic Acid and various vitamins and minerals.

Health Benefits and Applications Pumpkin Seed Oil:

Pumpkin Seed Oil is known to have number of benefits, some of the important ones include:

Culinary Uses: Rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids with a nutty smell makes it popular oil in various cuisines. It is mixed with olive oil and honey to serve as salad dressing. Syrian cuisine also makes plenty use of pumpkin seed oil for dressings.

Prostate Health: Enlargement of Prostate gland is a common problem in people over 50 years of age. This problem is mainly caused due to over stimulation of prostate cells which can be cured by use of Pumpkin seed oil. This essential oil stops prostate cell multiplication with is triggered by testosterone.

Stronger Bones: This essential oil is also rich in zinc which promotes stronger bone structure among men.

Anti Inflammatory: Pumpkin seed essential oil is anti inflammatory in nature and thus helpful in dealing with ailments like arthritis.

Controls Cholesterol levels: Phytosterols present in pumpkin seed essential oil is very help in controlling and maintaining Cholesterol levels in our body up to a healthy level.

Other therapeutic properties of Pumpkin Seed Oil that make it useful are: maintaining healthy blood vessels, dietary supplement, anti diabetic, antioxidant, anti carcinogenic, etc.

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