Pumpkin Seed in Cancer Prevention: Description, Chemistry and Mode of Action

Natural plants are abundant in several nutrients and bioactive components that are used in commercially available medicines for the management and cure of various diseases. From ancient times, pumpkin has been a multi-functional ingredient in our diet with excellent nutritive values and as a herbal medicine. Pumpkin belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family; it is widely cultivated and distributed across the world. Pumpkin seeds (PS) or Cucurbita species are used in the treatment of various ailments because of the medicinal properties possessed by their bioactive components. PS contain different phytoconstituents belonging to the category of amino acids, alkaloids, fatty acids, glycosides, minerals, nutrients, phenolic compounds, phytosterols, squalene, tocopherols and vitamins. PS oil and PS extract provide potential therapeutic advantages against several diseases, including anticancer, antihypertensive, antibacterial, protective, antidiabetic, immunomodulatory, and antihyperlipidemic activities. This chapter summarizes the botanical descriptions, phytochemical constituents and therapeutic uses of PS, mostly emphasizing on cancer prevention and antiproliferative constituents from the relevant literature.