Quantitation of 7-Sterols in Seeds Oil of Cucurbita pepo

Abstract

Background: One of the famous medicinal plants is Cucurbita pepo (Cucurbitaceae), which its seeds used as diuretic and anthelminthic. Recently, the seeds have used as symptomatic relief of Benign Prostate Hyperplasia. It is said, seeds’ steroids are responsible for these effects. Objectives: This research was performed for identification and quantitation of sterols in Cucurbita pepo cultivated in Iran and comparison those of Hungarian origin. Methods: Seeds oil was extracted by Soxhelet apparatus with methylene chloride. Peponene (soft gel capsule of pumpkin oil) was purchased from Hungary. Derivatization of standard sterols and oils were performed by hexamethyl disilasane and trimethyl chlorosilane and samples were injected to GC/MS. Results and Conclusion: Analysis of the Hungarian pumpkin oil shows three sterols, campestrol (0.82), stigmasterol (0.78) and avanestrol (0.84 mg/g oil). Analysis of the Iranian pumpkin oil shows campestrol (0.38) and stigmasterol (0.67 mg/g oil), and avanestrol is absent. l

Keywords

• cucurbita pepo
• gc/ms
• campestrol
• stigmasterol
• avanestro