Physicochemical characteristics of two types of Syrian pumpkin seeds

Abstract

The nutritional value of pumpkin seeds is related to its high content of protein and fatty materials. The results of this research showed that the seeds of Cucurbita maxima had greater dimensions compared to the seeds of the Cucurbita moschata. The mean of length, width, thickness and weight of 1000 seeds was 23.72 ± 1.65 mm, 12.84 ± 0.75 mm, 3.38 ± 0.44 mm and 330.42 ± 2.72 g, respectively for C. maxima, and 16.06 ± 0.49 mm, 8.78 ± 0.36 mm, 2.95 ± 0.21 mm, and 162.11 ± 1.04 g, respectively, for C. moschata. The results showed, on the other hand, difference in the chemical composition of the seeds of both types of Syrian pumpkin in (percentage of moisture, ash, fatty materials, proteins, crude fiber and dissolved carbohydrates).  

Gas chromatography analysis associated with the mass spectrometer GC -MS showed that the oil extracted from the seeds contained a high content of unsaturated fatty acids. Linoleic acid and oleic acid were the most abundant in the seed oil of both types. The percentage of each them were 48.24 % and 30.05 %, respectively, in the seeds of C. maxima, while their percentages in the seeds of C. moschata was 56.34 % and 18.72 %, respectively.