Nutritional Value and Antioxidant Activity of Fresh Pumpkin Flowers (Cucurbita sp.) Grown in Poland

Pumpkin flowers, in their composition, contain many bioactive ingredients that have a beneficial effect on the human body. The aim of the research was to evaluate the antioxidant activity and chemical composition of flowers of various species and varieties of pumpkins: Amazonka, Ambar, Atlantic Gian...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Applied sciences 2022-07, Vol.12 (13), p.6673
Main Authors: Bieżanowska-Kopeć, Renata, Ambroszczyk, Anna Magdalena, Piątkowska, Ewa, Leszczyńska, Teresa
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
antioxidant activity
Antioxidants
Carbohydrates
Carotenoids
Chemical activity
Chemical composition
Cucurbita moschata
Cucurbita pepo
Dietary minerals
Dry matter
Energy value
Fatty acid composition
Fatty acids
Flowering
Flowers
Flowers & plants
fresh pumpkin flowers
health properties
Laboratories
Minerals
Nutritive value
Polyphenols
Pumpkins
Shoots
Sugar
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Summary:Pumpkin flowers, in their composition, contain many bioactive ingredients that have a beneficial effect on the human body. The aim of the research was to evaluate the antioxidant activity and chemical composition of flowers of various species and varieties of pumpkins: Amazonka, Ambar, Atlantic Giant, Bambino (Cucurbita maxima L.), Butternut, Muscade de Provence, Rouge vif d’Etampes (Cucurbita moschata Duch.), and Miranda (Cucurbia pepo L.). The flowers came from flowering pumpkin shoots, grown in Poland (Krakow). The total polyphenols, carotenoids, total sugar contents, antioxidant activity, and fatty acid composition were determined. The content of dry matter, protein, ash, fat, and selected minerals were also determined. Pumpkin flowers of the Atlantic Giant variety were characterized by the highest content of total polyphenols and sugars and antioxidant activity. They also showed the highest percentage of n-myristic acid (C14:0) and docosanoic acid (C22:0). The energy value of fresh pumpkin flowers, of all varieties, was low and averaged 22 kcal/100 g. Fresh pumpkin flowers are a significant source of iron, covering 60–80% of the EAR standard for adults (Atlantic Giant and Bambino varieties).
ISSN:2076-3417
2076-3417
DOI:10.3390/app12136673