Comparative assessment of the physicochemical and biochemical properties of native and hybrid varieties of pumpkin seed and seed oil (Cucurbita maxima Linn.)

The hybrid variety of Cucurbita maxima is commercially available and frequently used as food in Bangladesh compared to the native variety. Although the seeds of Cucurbita maxima have nutritional and therapeutic values, people in Bangladesh typically throw them away as waste. If we can explore their physicochemical and biochemical properties, this will add new knowledge to nutrition and food science. Thus, in this study, we compare the physicochemical and biochemical properties of native and hybrid varieties of pumpkin seed and seed oil. Solvent extraction methods were used to obtain oil. The physicochemical properties of the extracted seed oils were examined by titration methods and proximate compositions of pumpkin seeds were determined using the standard method. Tocopherols were analyzed by HPLC…