PUMPKIN CUCURBITA PEPO

PUMPKIN (Cucurbita pepo L.) +++

Synonyms :
Cucumis pepo (L.) Dumort., Cucurbita mammeata Molina. TRAMIL data based on C. moschata Duchesne.

Activities (Pumpkin) :
5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor (1; BGB); Antiaggregant (1; TRA); Antiandrogenic (1; BGB); Antidiabetic (f; JFM); Antiedemic (1; SHT); Antiinflammatory (1; PHR; PH2; SHT); Antioxidant (1; PHR; PH2); Antiproliferant (1; JNU); Antiprostatitic (1; APA; FNF); Antipyretic (f; JFM); Cicatrizant (1; TRA); Demulcent (f; WBB); Diuretic (1; BGB; FNF; JFM; WBB); Herbicide (f; WAM); Neurotonic (f; EFS); Pectoral (f; JFM); Taenicide (1; BGB; WBB); Vermifuge (1; APA; BGB; PH2; WBB); Vulnerary (f; PHR).

Indications (Pumpkin) :
Adenoma (1; SHT); Asthenia (f; TRA); Bladder Stone (2; BGB); BPH (1; APA; BIS; FNF; SHT); Burn (f; TRA); Cancer (1; FNF; JLH); Cancer, eye (1; FNF; JLH); Cancer, liver (1; FNF; JLH); Cancer, lung (1; JNU); Cancer, mouth (1; FNF; JLH); Corn (f; JLH); Coryza (f; JFM); Cystosis (2; APA; BGB; PHR; PH2); Debility (f; TRA); Dermatosis (f; TRA); Diabetes (f; JFM); Diarrhea (f; JFM); Dropsy (f; DEM); Dyspepsia (f; DEM); Dysuria (1; BGB; PH2; SHT); Edema (f; DEM); Enuresis (1; BGB); Fever (f; JFM); Inflammation (1; PHR; PH2; SHT); Jaundice (f; JFM); Measles (f; JFM); Nephrosis (f; PHR; PH2); Ophthalmia (f; JLH); Oxalcrystalluria (2; BGB); Parasite (1; PH2); Prostatosis (1; APA; PHR; PH2); Psoriasis (1; TRA); Rheumatism (f; DEM); Roundworm (1; APA); Smallpox (f; JFM); Sore (f; JFM); Sprain (f; JFM); Stomatosis (f; JLH); Swelling (1; SHT); Syphilis (f; JFM); Tapeworm (1; APA; BGB; JFM; PH2; WBB); Tumor (f; JLH); Wart (f; JLH); Worm (1; APA; BGB; PH2; WBB); Wound (1; DEM; TRA).

Dosages (Pumpkin) :
Seeds are food farmacy! 60–500 g seed (APA); average single dose 50 g; 100–200 shelled seed kernels = 30–60 g (HHB); 10 g crushed seed (PHR; PH2; SHT).

Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Pumpkin) :
Class 1 (AHP; JAD).“Hazards and/or side effects not known for proper therapeutic dosages” (PH2). There are no known side effects or drug-drug interactions (PIP). Varro Tyler cautioned against self medication with BPH. Whenever treating BPH, a practitioner should be involved. Base-line levels of PSA should be established before considering an herbal treatment (JAD).

Extracts (Pumpkin) :
Pumpkin seeds have delta-7-sterols and selenium, which have antiinflammatory activity. Similar in conformation to dihydrotestosterone (PH2); these sterols can displace the product of 5-a-reductase from androgen receptors dose-dependently. Some argue that cucurbitacins may prevent conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, but Bisset notes that at least some seeds contain no cucurbitacins. One study in Thailand study showed that the seed lowered oxalcrystalluria (formation of bladder stones due to accumulated oxalate crystals in 2- to 7-year-old boys), while increasing glycosaminoglycans, potassium, and pyrophosphate (BGB).