title: African Cucurbita pepo L.: properties of seed and variability in fatty acid composition of seed oil.
abstract: Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) seeds are used locally in Eritrea to treat tapeworm. Seeds were found to be rich in oil (approximately 35%), protein (38%), alpha-tocoferols (3 mg/100 g) and carbohydrate content (approximately 37%). The physico-chemical properties and fatty acid composition of the seed oil were examined. The four dominant fatty acids found are: palmitic C16:0 (13.3%), stearic C18:0 (8.0%), oleic C18:1 (29.0%) and linoleic C18:2 (47.0%). The oil contains an appreciable amount of unsaturated fatty acids (78.0%) and found to be a rich source of linoleic acid (47.0%). Within the three localities of the study, variations exist in seed properties and the fatty acid composition of the oil.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Asmara, Eritrea. yelhassan@kfu.edu.sa
authors.forename: Y M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Younis
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ghirmay
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: al-Shihry
mesh_terms: D019662:Cucurbitaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D019017:Eritrea; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000737:chemistry*; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000737:chemistry*; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids; D010938:Plant Oils