Pumpkin-seed oil is a natural supplement rich with antioxidants and polyunsaturated fatty acids. The content of vitamin E, especially gamma-tocopherol, is very high in pumpkin seed oil. The oil content of the pumpkin seed is about 50%. The four dominant fatty acids are palmitic, stearic, oleic and linoleic acids. These four fatty acids make up 98 % of the total amount of fatty acids. If you would like a prostate formula that has several herbs and nutrients used for prostate health, see Prostate-Power-Rx or for more information on this formula see Prostate Power Rx. Some users report a mild sexual enhancement with this product. You may also consider signing up to a free health newsletter sent by email once or twice a month. I will discuss new pumpkin seed research as it becomes available. See Newsletter.

Numerous species of the Cucurbita genus are native to North America. Their fruits (mostly squash) have long been used for food, and their seeds for healing. Well-known Cucurbita species include autumn squash, butternut squash, China squash, crookneck squash, summer squash, and the famous Halloween squash and adornment: the pumpkin (C. pepo). For information on pumpkins and their nutritional value.

Pumpkin seed as a source of tryptophan
Gourd seed has a high amount of tryptophan.

Pumpkin Seed Availability
Pumpkin seeds can be raw, roasted, autoclaved, germinated, fermented, made into pumpkin protein concentrate and pumpkin protein isolate. Raw pumpkin seeds have more benefit than roasted pumpkin seeds. You can also find pumpkin seed extract which most often is found in prostate health formulas. For prostate saw palmetto information.

Benefit of Pumpkin Seed Research
Effect of pumpkin seed (Cucurbita pepo) protein isolate on the activity levels of certain plasma enzymes in CCl4-induced liver injury in low-protein fed rats.
Phytother Res. 2005 Apr;19(4):341-5.
Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Zululand, KwaDlangezwa, South Africa.
The effects of pumpkin seed (Cucurbita pepo) protein isolate on the activity levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LD), alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced acute liver injury in low-protein fed rats were investigated. A group of male Sprague-Dawley rats maintained on a low-protein diet for 5 days were divided into three subgroups. Two subgroups were injected with carbon tetrachloride and the other group with an equivalent amount of olive oil. Two hours after CCl4 intoxication one of the two subgroups was administered with pumpkin seed protein isolate. All three subgroups of rats were maintained on the low-protein diet for the duration of the investigation. Groups of rats from the different subgroups were killed at 24, 48 and 72 h after their respective treatments. After 5 days on the low-protein diet the activity levels of all four enzymes were significantly higher than their counterparts on a normal balanced diet. CCl4 intoxication resulted in significant increases in the activity levels of all four enzymes investigated. The administration of pumpkin seed protein isolate after CCl4 intoxication resulted in significantly reduced activity levels of all four enzymes. It is concluded that pumpkin seed protein isolate administration was effective in alleviating the detrimental effects associated with protein malnutrition.

[Preclinical studies of cucurbita maxima (pumpkin seeds) a traditional intestinal antiparasitic in rural urban areas]
Rev Gastroenterol Peru. 2004 Oct-Dec;24(4):323-7.
Hospital Nacional Edgardo Rebagliati Martins (HNERM), Lima.
Experimental research was carried out at the Parasitology and Chemistry laboratories of the Jorge Basadre Grohmann National University, in Tacna. The process involved two phases: (1) determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of pumpkin seed as an antiparasitic agent using canine tapeworms with an intestinal isolation of 5 to 6 hours, and (2) determination of the side-effects of pumpkin seed on exposed albino rats. It was found that the MIC of 23 gr. of pumpkin seed in 100 ml. of distilled water can produce an antihelminthic effect.

Pumpkin-seed oil modulates the effect of felodipine and captopril in spontaneously hypertensive rats.
Pharmacol Res. 2000 May;41(5):555-63.
Pharmacology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Natural products like pumpkin seed oil may modify the potency of the calcium antagonist felodipine (FEL) or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE-inhibitor), captopril (CPT) in modulating the biochemical derangement in blood, heart and kidney as well as blood pressure and heart rate of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were investigated. SHR were treated orally with FEL at a dose of 0. 45 mg kg(-1) body wt. or CPT at a dose of 9 mg kg(-1) body wt. once daily for 4 weeks. Pumpkin seed oil was administered at a dose of 40 mg kg(-1) body wt. alone or with FEL or CPT in the previous respective dose regimen for the same period to SHR. The results were explained in the light of the antioxidant properties of pumpkin seed oil. Therefore, it is concluded that concomitant administration of FEL or CPT with natural antioxidants can yield a beneficial therapeutic effect and retard the progression of hypertension.

Efficacy of simvastatin and pumpkin-seed oil in the management of dietary-induced hypercholesterolemia.
Pharmacol Res. 1997 May;35(5):403-8. Pharmacology and Biochemistry Departments, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Pumpkin seed oil was given in combination with simvastatin, as antihypercholesterolemic drug, to high cholesterol-fed rabbits, for three weeks. In comparison with normal rabbits, a significant increase of the aortic contractile response to norepinephrine was observed which could be attributed to endothelium dysfunction. In addition, serum levels of total lipids, triacylglycerols, total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) were increased while phospholipids and high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) were decreased in hypercholesterolemic rabbits. These changes could be related to the predominance of LDL and oxidized-LDL particles caused by high levels of reactive oxygen species during hypercholesterolemia (HC). Treatment with simvastatin modulated most of the altered parameters affected during HC that might be, in part, due to inhibition of cholesterol biosynthesis. While concomitant administration of simvastatin and pumpkin seed oil succeeded to cause marked reduction of the aortic contractile response to norepinephrine and to normalize the most adverse effects observed during HC. These effects were explained by the potentiating effects of simvastatin with antioxidants and essential fatty acids in pumpkin seed oil. On the contrary, serum activities of aminotransferases and creatine phosphokinase were increased with simvastatin treatment but not with the combination therapy in hypercholesterolemic rabbits.

Pumpkin Seed Questions
Q. Could you tell me where to purchase "pumpkin seed protein isolate.
   A. You can probably find out doing a google search.

Q. Is it okay to eat roasted pumpkin seed?
   A. I much prefer consuming raw pumpkin seed. Roasted pumpkin seed may have some of the fatty acids disturbed by cooking the pumpkin seed in high heat.

Q. Searching for raw pumpkin seed oil, I could only locate one that although not roasted or toasted, is subjected to a process that is called the 'european hydrotherm' and doing so can reach a temperature of 250 -- is this high enough to alter the oils I am using it for in the first place ?
   A. We have not seen research on pumpkin seed oil and European Hydrotherm, however it may be logical to assume that any kind of heating would not be beneficial, although the lower the heat the less of damage to the fatty acids in the pumpkin seed oil.

Q. Do pumpkins seeds have an acidic or alkaline effect on your blood?
   A. We don't know for sure. Probably not much of an effect if consumed in an amount of one or two ounces.

Q. 3 months ago I was diagnosed with Prostatitis / Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome. At this point there is not a medication that I can SAFELY take to cure or eliminate the symptoms. Every mediation out there has so many side effects it makes me wonder if wanna live with my symptoms than risk taken them. My most prominent prostatitis symptoms are hesitation and dribbling only in the morning and pain in the pelvic that spreads to the anus. I have been researching for a safe prostate formula and found lots of information on your website. Comparing products sold elsewhere with your Prostate Power Rx I found that you have eliminated the use of Pumpkin seeds powder. I have read many articles on how beneficial the Pumpkin seeds are and I am wondering why you did not include in your formula. 
   A. Pumpkin seeds are weak compared to the potent herbs in Prostate Power Rx, and even if pumpkin seed extract is included in a product, the amount could not be that much to fit in the capsules with the rest of the other important herbs. Plus, it is very easy for people to find raw pumpkin seeds at a grocery store and have a few a day.

Q. The other night I heard of the immense lycopene content in pumpkin seeds and the beneficial content to the prostate. I am curious as to whether this is an old 'wives' tale or is it actually true?
   A. We searched Medline for " pumpkin seed lycopene " and could not find any such studies regarding lycopene content of pumpkin seeds. There are dozens of beneficial substances in seeds and herbs, and it is best not to focus too much on just one substance.

Q. I have been purchasing Prostate Power Rx. Do you intend to add to this product pumpkin seed extract?
   A. The amount of pumpkin seed to be effective is quite large and the small space in a capsule does not allow for pumpkin seed to be added. Companies that do have pumpkin seed in their capsules most often have so little that it is of no value.