Partially Defatted Pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima) Seeds - a Rich Source of Nutrients for Use in Food Products

Abstract

Pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima) seeds are a rich source of ingredients such as aminoacids, fatty acids, minerals, and phytochemicals exhibiting nutraceutical effects on human health. In this work, partially defatted pumpkin seeds flour, a by-product obtained during the manufacture of pumpkin seeds oil, was studied as an additive for common wheat flour. We explored the physico-chemical properties as well the content in amino acids of the partially defatted pumpkin seeds. The obtained results revealed that partially defatted pumpkin seeds are a good source of protein (42.75% d.m.), lipids (12.28% d.m.), total carbohydrates (37.4% d.m.), from which crude fiber (26.64% d.m.). This by-product presents a high mineral content (mg/100g): potassium (1290), magnesium (693), iron (87.8), zinc (11.5) and copper (2.49).The partially defatted pumpkin seeds proteins contain significant amounts of essential amino acids such as valine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, threonine and methionine.