Pumpkin

The cucurbit family is the only family in the order Cucurbitales and is widely distributed, with about 850 species. The pumpkin plant has shoots that are over 10 m long, either creeping along the ground or climbing upward, rough, hairy, lobed leaves, and large yellow male and female flowers.

Pumpkins—which are actually berries, or “armored berries”—are among the largest fruits, with spongy yellow flesh; they can weigh up to 25 kg. Pumpkin seed oil is extracted from the flattened, whitish-green or light brown seeds they contain.

The medicinal plant is imported from Eastern European countries, Austria, Hungary, and Mexico; the garden squash, Cucurbita pepo, is native to this region.

In phytotherapy, the whole, dried, ripe seeds (Cucurbitae semen) are used.

Pumpkin seed extracts belong to the phytopharmaceutical group within naturopathy and are primarily used for urological conditions.

Gynostemma pentaphyllum is also worth noting. The leaves of this cucurbit are used as tea in Asia. Studies show significant improvements in type 2 diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidemia. 

1. Wenigmann M. (2017) Phytotherapy medicinal drugs, phytopharmaceuticals, application. Urban & Fischer, pp. 143-144
2. https://arzneipflanzenlexikon.info/kuerbis.php
3. https://pflanzen.fnr.de/industriepflanzen/arzneipflanzen/pflanzen-datenbank

4. Blaschek W (2015) Wichtl tea drugs and phytopharmaceuticals. A handbook for practitioners. Wissenschaftliche Verlagsgesellschaft Munich. S 207-209