Pumpkin plants form the only family of the order Cucurbitales, which is widespread with around 850 species. The pumpkin plant has shoots that are over 10 m long, creeping or climbing above the ground, rough, hairy, lobed leaves and large yellow male and female flowers.
Pumpkins, actually berries, are one of the largest fruits with spongy yellow flesh and can weigh up to 25 kg. Pumpkin seed oil is extracted from the flattened, white-greenish or light brown seeds they contain.
The drug is imported from Eastern European countries, Austria, Hungary and Mexico, where the garden pumpkin, Cucurbita pepo, is native.
The whole, dried, ripe seeds(Cucurbitae semen) are used phytotherapeutically.
Pumpkin seed extracts belong to the group of phytopharmaceuticals in the natural healing group and are mainly used for urological diseases.