In the fall, the pumpkins adorn the Romanian gardens in a rustic and colorful atmosphere. Apart from their decorative role, from traditional recipes and feed, their fruits hide impressive qualities.
The pumpkins are considered overheated, according to some researches. Photo: freepik.com
The pumpkins have remained ordinary and colorful presence in the autumn landscape of the vegetable gardens in Romania, but sometimes their role is regarded as a decorative one.
They are used in the traditional cuisine for the famous pumpkin pies, for sweets, soups and broths, they are extremely well received as animal feed and are almost endless from Halloween decorations. However, beyond their ornamental and the one from the occasional delicacies of the Romanians, the qualities of pumpkin seeds and the oils extracted from them are increasingly attracting the attention of scientists.
The “wonderful seeds” of the Superiment
The pumpkin belongs to the Cucurbitatae family, which includes several species with both economic and agronomic importance. All parts of the pumpkin are edible and rich in beneficial nutraceutic compounds, specialists show.
In addition to the nutritional qualities of pumpkin seeds, some scientific researches have also highlighted their therapeutic effects.
“Pumpkin seeds are a valuable source of protein, which can contribute to combating protein malnutrition, and lipids (rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids-PUFA), which include essential and non-essential fatty acids, with a role in preventing conditions such as cancer and cardiovascular disease. (magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium and calcium) and micro-minerals (iron, copper, manganese, zinc and selenium), they can be used as a special dietary supplement, contributing to the prevention of various diseases caused by nutritional deficiencies ”, shows scientists in a research published in 2024 on the Sciencedirect platform.
The study, conducted in one of the most prestigious universities in India, recalls that, due to their remarkable nutritional properties, pumpkin seeds, viewed in the past as an agro-industrial waste, have become recognized as “wonderful seeds” for human well-being.
Consumed fried, such as breakfast cereals, bakery products, soups and other culinary preparations, pumpkin seeds are a real storage of antioxidants, which extend life and protect the body against different diseases, according to scientists.
“Pumpkin seeds contain numerous bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols, flavonoids, phytosterols and squalene, which makes them a valuable raw material for pharmaceutical and food industries. They have antidepressant effect and are used especially in the treatment of berign prostate hyperplasia (BHP). Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. notes the study authors.
The pumpkin seeds are superior nutrients and are included in the category of superfoods, having extraordinary properties, the researchers at the University of Kanpur, India conclude.
The qualities of pumpkin oil
On the territory of Romania, the pumpkin has been cultivated for hundreds of years, but its therapeutic qualities have been researched more in the last decades, especially in the case of pumpkin oil.
A recent study by researcher Margit Csipkés, at the University of Debrecen, named “The importance of pumpkin and pumpkin for oil in Romania”, It shows that, in addition to its special and pleasant taste, pumpkin seed oil is considered healthy, being recognized as one of the best substances to stimulate immunity.
Also, pumpkin seed oil is beneficial for maintaining male health, preventing prostate problems, but also for improving gastric and digestive disorders.
“From the pumpkin seeds you can get a very tasty oil, with numerous beneficial effects on the hair and skin. In many cases, it is recommended to improve circulation and to improve the symptoms of menopause and prostate disorders. In some specialized works, pumpkin seed oil is mentioned as a real miracle.” adds the study author.
The tradition of pumpkin, over a century
Although it does not enjoy the same popularity as sunflower oil, the tradition of producing pumpkin oil is long in both Romania and Hungary, adds the researcher.
“In Hungary, especially in the villages in Zala and őrség, and in Romania in Cluj county and in the area of Bucharest, the production of pumpkin seeds is of great importance. In both countries, the cultivation of pumpkin and the pressing of the oil from its seeds represents a tradition of about a hundred years. Varieties with seeds without shell ”, recalls the researcher.
Pumpkin seed oil is produced by cold pressing and hot pressing, and to obtain a liter of high quality oil are required about 2.5 kilograms of seeds.
“Of the two technologies, the aroma of cold pressed pumpkin seed oil is more natural, and the final product retains a larger amount of vitamins. The disadvantage is that it can only be produced in smaller quantities. Warm pressed pumpkin seeds can produce a larger quantity, because in this process salt and water are added. adds the researcher.
The cake left after the oil pressing can be used both in confectionery and gastronomy and as animal feed.
In Romania, the production of pumpkins and tarts was over 13,000 tonnes in 2022, according to the latest statistics published by the European Commission, decreasing from previous years. The surfaces grown with pumpkins and tarts total about 1,000 – 1,300 hectares.
