Pumpkin: benefits, dosage, contraindications
Other name(s)
Pumpkin seeds
Scientific name(s)
Cucurbita pepo L., semen
Family or group:
Plants
Active ingredients:
Vitamin E
Beta carotene
Linoleic acid
Phytosterols
Oleic acid
Lutein
Indications
Rating methodology
EFSA approval.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia ✪✪✪✪✪
The EMA recognizes the traditional use of pumpkin seed extracts for relief of lower urinary tract symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or a hyperactive bladder. ESCOP indicates it in the symptomatic treatment of voiding disorders (such as dysuria, pollakiuria, nocturia, urinary retention, and hesitancy) in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) at stages I and II according to the Alken definition or at stages II and III according to the Vahlensieck definition. Several high-quality studies support these traditional uses. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 47 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia, the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) was reduced by a 3-month treatment with pumpkin seed oil, but prostate-specific antigen and prostate volume were not reduced. The IPSS is a standardized questionnaire used to assess the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Another clinical trial with 2,245 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia, who received a pumpkin seed extract for 3 months, also showed an improvement in BPH symptoms, particularly in the early stages, which was measured by a decrease in the IPSS. Pumpkin seed oil has also been compared to tamsulosin (a reference medication for treating BPH symptoms). A clinical study comparing pumpkin seed oil 360 mg twice daily to tamsulosin 0.4 mg once nightly for 3 months shows that both treatment groups reported improvements in BPH symptoms and quality of life compared to baseline, although the improvement appeared greater in the tamsulosin group, particularly when measured at 1 month and 3 months. In the pumpkin seed oil group, no adverse effects were reported, versus 15% of patients taking tamsulosin.
Posologie
Oral: seed
720 - 1200 mg
12 - months
Men
oil
Synergies
Community herbal monograph on Cucurbita pepo L., semen
A phase II randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial investigating the efficacy and safety of ProstateEZE Max: a herbal medicine preparation for the management of symptoms of benign prostatic hypertrophy.
Pumpkin Seed Extract: Cell Growth Inhibition of Hyperplastic and Cancer Cells, Independent of Steroid Hormone Receptors
A phase II randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial investigating the efficacy and safety of ProstateEZE Max: a herbal medicine preparation for the management of symptoms of benign prostatic hypertrophy.
Treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia with phytosterols.
Pumpkin seed oil (Cucurbita pepo) versus tamsulosin for benign prostatic hyperplasia symptom relief: a single-blind randomized clinical trial
Inhibition of Testosterone-Induced Hyperplasia of the Prostate of Sprague-Dawley Rats by Pumpkin Seed Oil
Effects of Pumpkin Seed Oil and Saw Palmetto Oil in Korean Men With Symptomatic Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
[Prosta Fink Forte capsules in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Multicentric surveillance study in 2245 patients].
[Prosta Fink Forte capsules in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Multicentric surveillance study in 2245 patients].
Pumpkin seed oil (prostafit) or prazosin? Which one is better in the treatment of symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia.
Hair loss ✪✪✪✪✪
Clinical research suggests that taking 400 mg of pumpkin seed oil daily for 24 weeks increases hair mass by 30% compared to placebo in men with mild to moderate hair loss. Another more recent study examined the effectiveness of pumpkin seed oil -applied to the scalp- in treating hair loss in women. The study compared pumpkin seed oil to 5% minoxidil. In the study, 60 women suffering from androgenetic alopecia were divided into two groups: one treated with pumpkin seed oil, and the other with minoxidil. Treatments were applied once daily for three months. Efficacy was evaluated by observing changes in hair diversity and regrowth. Results showed significant improvement in both groups, but minoxidil showed superior efficacy compared to pumpkin seed oil. The authors conclude that pumpkin seed oil applied to the scalp improves hair regrowth in the same way as 5% minoxidil foam, at a dose of 1 ml per day.
Posologie
Topically, orally: seed
400 mg
3 - months
Adults
oil
Evaluation of the Safety and Effectiveness of Nutritional Supplements for Treating Hair Loss: A Systematic Review
Pumpkin seed oil vs. minoxidil 5% topical foam for the treatment of female pattern hair loss: A randomized comparative trial
Effect of pumpkin seed oil on hair growth in men with androgenetic alopecia: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
Urinary Disorders ✪✪✪✪✪
ESCOP indicates the use of pumpkin seeds in cases of urinary incontinence or irritable bladder in men and women. A study enrolling 45 subjects validated this use. An extract of C. maxima pumpkin seed oil (10 g of oil/day) was administered orally for 12 weeks. After 6 and 12 weeks, urinary function was evaluated using the OABSS (Overactive Bladder Symptom Score). C. maxima pumpkin seed oil significantly reduced the degree of OABSS in the subjects.
Posologie
Orally: seed
10 g
12 - weeks
Adults
oil
Pumpkin Seed Oil Extracted From Cucurbita Maxima Improves Urinary Disorder in Human Overactive Bladder
Chemical and Nutritional Characterization of Seed Oil From Cucurbita Maxima L. (Var. Berrettina) Pumpkin
E/S/C/O/P: 2nd Edition of the ESCOP Monographs
Cucurbita pepo-Rhus aromatica-Humulus lupulus Combination Reduces Overactive Bladder Symptoms in Women - A Noninterventional Study
Properties
Antiandrogenic
It has been suggested that the actions of pumpkin seed oil are due to phytosterols, which are known to inhibit 5-alpha-reductase and have antiandrogenic effects in rats. The enzyme 5-alpha reductase is responsible for converting testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a more active form of the hormone. Pumpkin seeds can reduce DHT levels by inhibiting this enzyme, which benefits the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia, a condition often linked to excess androgenic activity.
Usages associés
Antiparasitic
Pumpkin seed extracts can be used to combat gastrointestinal nematode infections and hymenolepis nana (dwarf tapeworm) according to some in vivo and in vitro studies. Pumpkin seeds exhibit anthelmintic properties, primarily due to the presence of a compound named cucurbitin. Cucurbitin is a non-protein amino acid effective against several types of intestinal parasites. Studies have shown that pumpkin seed extracts are effective against parasites such as schistosomes and tapeworms. These anthelmintic properties can be explained by the action of cucurbitin, which inhibits the growth of these parasites. Cucurbitin possesses a chemical structure similar to kainic acid (known for its neuroexcitatory properties, which can act by disturbing the nervous system of parasitic worms), potentially explaining its mode of action as an anthelmintic.
Diuretic
Pumpkin seed oil appears to have a diuretic effect, which can relieve bladder discomfort. It is thought that the phytosterol constituents affect urinary flow. Delta-7 sterols, believed to be the primary contributors to these effects, are only detected in certain pumpkin varieties.
Usages associés
Anticancer
In vitro research shows that pumpkin seed extract or cucurbitin can inhibit the growth of various types of cancer cells. In an in vitro study, pumpkin seed extract inhibited the cell growth of cancer cell lines: prostate cancer cell lines, breast cancer cell line. This effect was not due to cucurbitin. Growth inhibition was also observed in the hyperplastic but non-cancerous cell line, which originates from benign prostatic hyperplasia tissue. However, the study concludes that these effects are not mediated by steroid hormone receptors.
Usages associés
Safety dosage
Adult from 18 years: 300 mg - 900 mg (dry extract)
Dry extract: dose of 105 mg, 3 times a day; or 152 mg, 2 times a day.
Adult from 18 years: 300 mg - 1200 mg (oil)
Oil: 300 - 1200 mg, per day.
Adult from 18 years: 5 g - 15 g (powder)
Powder: 2.5 - 7.5 g, 2 times a day.
Plantes ou autres actifs
Pumpkin: weak interaction
Due to its potential diuretic effects, pumpkin may reduce the excretion and increase lithium levels.
Precautions
Pregnant woman: avoid
Pumpkin seed oil is very well tolerated by the body. However, medical advice is recommended for young children, pregnant women, and breastfeeding women.
Breastfeeding woman: avoid
Pumpkin seed oil is very well tolerated by the body. However, medical advice is recommended for young children, pregnant women, and breastfeeding women.
Child up to 18 years: avoid
Pumpkin seed oil is very well tolerated by the body. However, medical advice is recommended for young children, pregnant women, and breastfeeding women.
