Kalabasa

Cucurbita maxima Duchesne

SQUASH
Fan nan gua

Scientific names Common names

Cucumis rapallito Carriére Calabaza (Sp.)
Cucumis zapallito Carriére Kabasi (Sul.)
Cucurbita farinae Mozz. ex Naudin Kabasi (Sul.)
Cucurbita maxima Duchesne Kalabasa (Tag., Ceb.)
Cucurbita pileiformis M.Roem. Kalabasang-bilog (Tag.)
Cucurbita rapallito Carriére Kalabasang-pula (Tag.)
Curcubita sulcata Blanco Karabasa (Ilk.)
Curcubita tirbaniformis M.Roem. Kumbasa (Bon.)
Curcubita zapallito Carriére Giant pumpkin (Engl.)
Squash (Engl.)
Sweet-fleshed squash (Engl.)
Cucurbita maxima Duchesne is an accepted name. The Plant List

Other vernacular names

AFRIKAANS : Pampoen.
ARABIC : Qar'islambuli, Qar'malti, Qar'maghrabi, Karr estmboly (Egypt).
CHINESE: Bei gua, jiao si gua, yang gua, Sun gua, Fan nan gua.
DANISH : Centnergræskar.
DUTCH : Pompoen, Ronde pompoen, Reuzenpompoen, Reuzenkalebas.
ESTONIAN : Suureviljaline kõrvits.
FINNISH : Jättiläiskurpitsa.
FRENCH : Potiron, Giraumon, Courge-giraumon, Courge d'hiver, Grosse courge, Courge-potiron.
GERMAN : Risen-Kürbis, Risenkürbis, Riesenkuerbis.
HEBREW : Delaat gedola.
HINDI : Kadduu, Sitaphal.
HUNGARIAN : Sütö tök.
ITALIAN : Zucca, Zucca gigante, Giramonte.
JAPANESE : Kuri kabocha, Seiyou kabocha, Seiyou kabocha.
NEPALESE : Kadu, Kashi phal, Pharsi, Sitaa phal.
NORWEGIAN : Kjempegraskar.
POLISH : Dynia duza, Dynia olbrzymia.
PORTUGUESE : Abóbora-menina, Abóbora-moranga.
RUSSIAN : Tykva gigantskaia.
SPANISH : Calabaza amarilla, Calabaza de cidra, Calabaza gigante, Calabaza tamalayota, Calabaza
tonanera, Calabaza redonda, Quinoa, Quinua, Zapallo (Argentina).
SWEDISH : Jättepumpa, Pumpa.
URDU : Halva kaddu, Mitha kaddu.
YORUBA : Apala.

Botany
Kalabasa is a coarse, prostrate or climbing, annual, herbaceous vine, reaching a length of 4 meters or
more. Leaves are hispid, rounded, 15 to 30 centimeters in diameter, heart-shaped at the base, shallowly
5-lobed, with finely toothed margins, and often mottled on the upper surface. Flowers are bell-shaped,
erect, yellow and about 12 centimeters long, the corolla limb is about as wide, and 5-toothed. Fruit is
large, variable in shape, fleshy, with a yellow pulp. Seeds are ovoid or oblong, compressed, and about
1.3 centimeters long.

Distribution
- Widely cultivated throughout the Philippines as a vegetable produce.
- Occasionally found as an escape.
- Planted in all warm countries.

Constituents
• Phytochemical screening yielded carbohydrates, steroids, proteins and amino acids.
• Fruit contains fat, 10%; pentosan, 5.2 %; protein, 14.2%; and ash, 9/3%.
• Seeds yield proteins (24-36.5%) and oil (31.5-51%).
• Seeds contain fixed oil, 20-25%; a proteid, edestin. The seed's active principle is a pepo-resin found in
the cotyledons.
• Curcurbitin, a constituent in pumpkin seeds has shown anti-parasitic activity in the test tube.
• Seed extract yielded carbohydrates, saponins, and flavonoids.
• Proximate analysis of powdered seed yielded moisture 4.06%, ash 3.80%, crude fiber 2.91%, total lipid
36.70%, total protein 34.56%, total soluble protein 18.10%, sugar 1.08%, and starch 2.15%. Mineral
composition yielded nitrogen 5.53%, phosphorus 0.71%, sodium 4.80 Cmol/kg, potassium 20.00
Cmol/kg, Calcium 4.40 Cmol/kg, Magnesium 348.7 ppm, iron 290.0 ppm, copper 70 ppm, zinc 39.9 ppm,
and manganese 17.9 ppm. (32)
• Lipid analysis of pumpkin seed oil yielded an oil content of 12% with oleic acid 40.58%, stearic acid
27.06%, palmitic acid 17.39%, and linolein acid 14.97%. (see study below) (32)
• Study on seeds isolated three new mutiflorane-type triterpene esters, i.e., 7α-hydroxymultiflor-8-ene-
3α,29-diol 3-acetate-29-benzoate (1), 7α-methoxymultiflor-8-ene-3α,29-diol 3,29-dibenzoate (2), and 7β-
methoxymultiflor-8-ene-3α,29-diol 3,29-dibenzoate, along with known compound, multiflora-7,9(11)-
diene- 3α,29-diol 3,29-dibenzoate (4). (see study below) (3)
• Proximate analysis of leaves showed ash 12.9%, fiber 11.21%, protein 14.21%, lipid 6.31%,
carbohydrate 69.22%, moisture content 74.41%, and caloric value of 348.98 Kcal. Vitamin content at
mg/100g of leaves showed vitamin 49.81 for vitamin A and 31.42 for vitamin C. (35)
• Phytochemical analysis of leaves yielded alkaloids ++, tannin +++, flavonoids ++ and cardiac
glycosides +++; negative for terpenes and saponins. (35)
• Phytochemical screening of ethanol and chloroform extracts of pulp yielded polyphenols, alkaloids,
flavanoids, carbohydrates, terpenoids, tannins, saponins, proteins, and amino acids. Glycosides were
found in chloroform extract only. (36)
• Protein and antioxidant levels and activities in C. maxima pulp tissue showed protein 74 mg/g, vitamin
C 12 mg/g, vitamin E 15 mg/g, reduced glutathione 52.7 mg/g, catalase 40.8 µmoles of H2O2, DOD 102
µg of pyrogallol, glutathione peroxidase 5.7 µmoles of GSH. (36)
• In a study for volatile components, the dominant fruit component was heneicosane (46.5%), followed
by benzaldehyde, tricosane, eicosane and pentacosane. Dominant leaf volatiles were (2E0-hexenal
(46.2%), nonadecane, benzaldehyde, terpenes (E)-ß-damascone and (E)-ß-ionone while seeds yielded
hetadecane (22-3%), tetradecane, octadecane, hexadecane, tridecane and benzaldehyde. (see study
below) (38)
• Phytochemical screening of an aqueous extract of leaves yielded alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids,
steroids, protein and amino acid, tannin, saponin, carbohydrates, with an absence of cyanogenetic
glycosides, anthroquinone, glycosides, cardiac glycosides, fixed volatile oils, and mucilage. (see study
below) (42)

Properties
• Considered anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, diuretic, tonic, vermifuge.
• Studies suggest antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, antidiabetic, antihyperlipidemic,
antioxidant, immunomodulatory, anticarcinogenic, anthelmintic properties.
Parts used
Fruits, seeds, stalk.

Uses
Nutritional / Edibility
- Widely used as a vegetable in the Philippines, baked, boiled, or stewed.
- Young shoots and flowers used as green vegetable.
- A vegetable which is an excellent source of vitamin B. The shoots and flowers contain calcium,
phosphorus and iron. The fruit contains calcium and vitamin A.
- Smaller new leaves are used as salad ingredients, while stems are chopped and boiled with other
vegetables. (48)
- Seeds are a good source of protein, zinc, and other vitamins; dried and eaten raw or baked.
- In India, fruit is largely used in curries.
- Fruit makes an excellent substitute for pumpkin in pies.
Folkloric
• In India, fruit pulp is often used as poultice for carbuncles, boils and ulcers.
• Dried pulp, in the form of confection, used as remedy for hemoptysis and hemorrhages from the
pulmonary tract.
• For venomous insect bites, the fruit stalk in contact with the ripe gourd is cut, dried, and made into a
paste and applied to venomous insect bites, especially centipedes.
• The fresh seeds, pulped or in emulsion, are used as anthelmintic. Seeds are eaten fresh to expel
worms from the stomach. For tapeworms, seeds are given with sugar at bedtime, followed with a dose of
castor oil in the morning.
• Seed oil used as nervine tonic.
• In Brazil, pumpkin seeds are used for stomach pain, as anti-inflammatory, antipyretic and anthelmintic.
• In China, pumpkin seeds have been used for acute schistosomiasis.
• In Thailand, seeds used for kidney stones.
Others
• Seed contains an oil. Used for lighting.
• Fruit can provide a face-mask for dry skins.
• In India, fruit used in worship ritual.

Studies
• Antimicrobial / Anti-inflammatory / Neuro
Effects : Extracts of leaves, fruits and flowers
of C. maxima were subjected to
pharmacologic and microbiological studies.
Results showed complete inhibition of B.
subtilis and partial inhibition of E. coli. Fruits
and leaves showed neuro effects: decrease
motor activity, ataxia, temporary palpebral
ptosis among others. Ethyl acetate extracts of
flowers showed decreased respiratory rate,
analgesia, diarrhea and exophthalmos. (2)
• Toxicity evaluation of Cucurbita maxima
seed extract in mice: Study evaluated acute
and subacute toxicity effect of hydroalcoholic
extract from seeds in mice. Hydroalcoholic
extract of CM seeds had a considerable
safety margin and devoid of acute toxicity.
The average lethal dose (DL50) is higher than
5000 mg/kg. Results suggest the
hydroalcoholic extract from C. maxima seeds
at dose of 5000 mg/kg has a considerable
safety margin, devoid of acute toxicity. (3)
• Antigenotoxicity / Spinasterol: Study on
antigenotoxic constituents of squash flowers
showed isolate SQFwB2D (spinasterol) from
the chloroform extract to possess the most
antigenotoxicity, decreasing the mutagenicity
of tetracycline by 64.7%. (4)
• Pumpkin Seed Oil / BPH: Pumpkin seed oil
has been approved by the Germany's Commission E since 1985 for the treatment of BPH (benign
prostatic hyperplasia).
• Antiparasitic: Study showed that pumpkin seed can produce an anthelmintic effect. There was
alteration in helmintic motility and a protheolithic effect. Egg destruction was noted in the gravid
proglottids. (5)
• Hypoglycemic: Study evaluated the hypoglycemic activity of fruit juice and hydro-alcoholic extract of
C. maxima in STZ-induced diabetic rats. Both caused significant decrease in hyperglycemia, with the
extract showing more hypoglycemic effect than the fruit juice. (8)
• Immunomodulatory / Seeds: Cm seeds were tested for immunomodulatory effects using a
dexamethasone-induced immunosuppression model in rabbits. Results showed Cucurbita maxima
possesses potential to act as an immunomodulator. (9)
• Antidiabetic / Aerial Parts: Study of antidiabetic activity of methanol extract of aerial parts in Wistar
albino rats against STZ-induced diabetes showed fasting blood glucose reduction in a treatment-duration
dependent manner. (10)
• Anticancer / Aerial Parts: Study evaluated the antitumor activity of a methanol extract of C. maxima
Duschesne aerial parts on Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma model in mice. Results revealed significant
anticancer activity attributed to its cytotoxicity and antioxidant properties. (11)
• Sterols / Antimicrobial Activity / Flowers: Study of flowers afforded a 4:1 mixture of spinasterol and
24-ethyl-5a-cholesta-7,22,25-trien-3ß-ol. Results showed slight activity against fungi A. niger and C.
albicans and bacteria B. subtilis and P. aeruginosa. (12)
• Anthelmintic / Schistosomiasis: Study of a decoction prepared from C. maxima var. alyaga seeds
showed a killing effect on S. japonicum somulae in vitro, with a dose-effect relationship in the mean
percentage somula death. (13)
• Hepatoprotective: Study showed the hepatoprotective activity of methanol extracts of C maxima and
Legenaria siceraria seeds against paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity. (14)
• Anthelmintic Activity / Comparative Study: Study compared the in-vitro anthelmintic activity of
Asparagus racemosus and C. maxima against Indian model. Both ethanolic and aqueous extracts of
both plants showed significant anthelminthic activity, with the EE of A. racemosus showing better
activity. (15)
• Human Overactive Urinary Bladder / Pumpkin Seed Oil: Study evaluated the effect of pumpkin
seed oil from C. maxima on urinary dysfunction in human overactive bladder. Pumpkin seed oil
significantly reduced the degree of OABSS (overactive bladder symptoms score). (16)
• Anti-Inflammatory / Fruit: Study evaluated a methanol extract of fruit for anti-inflammatory activity in
rats using a carrageenan induced paw edema model. Results showed potent anti-inflammatory activity.
Standard reference drug was indomethacin. (17)
• Humoral Immune Response / Seeds: Study evaluated the humoral immune response in rabbits
treated with Cucurbita maxima seeds. Dexamethasone caused significant decreases in antibody titer
and immunoglobulin concentration whereas dexamethasone plus cucurbita maxima and dexamethasone
plus levimasole showed significant increase in these entities. Results showed C. maxima seed powder
has the ability to modulate humoral immune response in normal and immunosuppressed rabbits. (18)
• Cell Mediated Immune Response / Seeds: Study evaluated C. maxima seeds for its
immunomodulatory effects using a dexamethasone induced immunosuppression model in rabbits
assessing cell mediated immune response. Results showed C. maxima seed has the potential to reverse
dexamethasone induced cell mediated immunosuppression in rabbits. (44)
• Protease Inhibitory Activity / Seed Coat Extracts: Cucurbita maxima and Citrullus lanatus seed coat
extracts showed good protease inhibitory activity. (19)
• Corrosion Inhibition: Study evaluated the inhibitive action of peel of Cuxurbita maxima on mild steel
corrosion. Results showed the extract functions as a good corrosion inhibitor with IE increasing with
extract concentration. (20)
• Anti-Inflammatory / Seed Extract / Foregut Induced Injury: Results showed CMSE has the ability to
maintain foregut mucosal integrity normalizing redox system activity and inflammatory mediators. (21)
• CNS Stimulant Activity / Seed Oil:Study evaluated the CNS stimulant activity of crude drug extract in
swiss albino mice. Results showed a petroleum ether extract showed good CNS stimulant effect that can
be explored for therapeutic use as alternative treatment in medical conditions associated with dizziness
and sedation. (22)
• Anti-Giardial Activity:Study evaluated the antigiardial activity of C. maxima, D. cucurbita pepo, and L.
siceraria. Cucurbita maxima petroleum ether extract of seeds showed the highest activity against Giardia
lamblia. The activity could be due to the presence of triterpene (cucurbitacins). (23)
• Anthelmintic:Study evaluated the antiparasitic activity of C. maxima using canine tapeworms on
exposed albino rats. Results showed an anthelmintic effect at MIC of 23 gr. of pumpkin seed in 100 cc of
water. Superficial non-erosive gastritis was noted in rats after 4 hours of 9 gr/kg. (25)
• Antidiabetic / Antihyperlipidemic:Study evaluated the antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic effect of
various extracts of seeds of C. maxima in STZ-induced diabetic wistar albino rats. Results showed
significant reduction (P<0.05) in blood glucose and significant decrease in total cholesterol, LDL, VLDL,
triglycerides, and marked increase in serum insulin and HDL-cholesterol. (26)
• Cytotoxicity / Seeds: In brine shrimp lethality assay, the LD50 of a methanol extracts and petroleum
ether fraction of Pumpkin seed were 31.70 ppm and 21.95 ppm respectively. (27)
• Antibacterial / Seed: Study of ethanol seed extract showed a spectrum of inhibition on Staph aureus,
B. subtilis, P. mirabilis, K. pneumonia and E coli.
• Diuretic: Study of a hydroalcoholic extract showed significant (p<0.01) diuretic activity at the dose of
300 mg/kg when compared to control acetazolamide. (28)
• Toxicity Study / Aerial Parts: Study in mice evaluated the safety of methanol extract of aerial parts.
Extract was well tolerated up to 2g/kg in acute toxicity study. In subacute toxicity study, it exhibited no
significant alterations in any parameters. (29)
• Analgesic Study / Aerial Parts: Study evaluated the analgesic effect of hydroalcoholic extract of CMD
in a formalin model in rats. Results showed reduction of acute pain and chronic pain in all
concentrations. Naloxone inhibited the analgesic effect of the extract. (30)
• Lipid Composition / Seeds: Lipid analysis of pumpkin seed oil yielded an oil content of 12% with oleic
acid, stearic acid, palmitic acid, and linolein acid. The high degree of unsaturation makes it suitable as a
drying agent, and the lower fatty acid content makes it suitable for edible use. (see constituents
above) (32)
• Triterpene Esters / Cytotoxicity and Melanogenesis Inhibition / Seeds: Study on seeds yielded
three new multiflorane-type triterpene esters (compounds 1-3). Compound 1 exhibited melanogenesis
inhibitory activity. Compounds 1 and 3 showed weak cytotoxicity against HL-60 and P388 cells. (33)
• Dried Vegetable Snack with High Carotenoid Content: Study evaluated cultivars of C. maxim for
use as ready-to-eat dried snacks with high carotenoid content. The cultivar 'Amazonka' showed a
potential for production of chips with high beta-carotene content (200 µg g-1). Results suggest winter
squash can be exploited as a novel product with attractive taste and color to serve as a valuable source
of carotenoids in human diet. (34)
• Antibacterial / Leaves: Study of C. maxima leaf extract showed significant antibacterial activity
against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli. (see
constituents and nutrient analysis above) (35)
• Anti-Diabetic / α-Amylase and α-glucosidase Inhibitory Activity / Seeds: Study investigated the α-
amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities of aqueous extract of C. maxima seeds in vitro. Results
showed appreciable α-amylase inhibitory activity of 46.03±1.3% with IC50 of 7.00±0.29 mg ml-1,
together with substantial α-glucosidase inhibitory effect of 35.11±1.04% with IC50 at 8.11±0.36 mg ml-.
Study suggest a potential herbal candidate for the management of postprandial hyperglycemia
associated with T2DM. (37)
• Volatiles and Fatty Oil: Study evaluated the volatile fractions from fruit, leaf, and seed of pumpkin (C.
maxima) and oil extracted from seeds, together with fatty acid composition and antioxidant activity. Seed
oil is richest linoleic acid (46.1%), oleic acid, and palmitic acid. Radical scavenging activity of the seed oil
was 43.9%. (see constituents above) (38)
• Anti-Cancer / Human Liver Cancer / Flowers: Study evaluated the anticancer activity of compounds
isolated from an ethyl acetate fraction of C. maxima flowers against human liver cancer HepG2 cell line
by MTT assay. All concentrations of the isolated compound showed anticancer activity via apoptosis
induction. (39)
• Anti-Prostate Cancer Activity / Desmosterol / Seed: Study of methanol seed extract identified
desmosterol as a predominant compound. Docking studies of the compound against androgen receptor
showed a high binding affinity score. Results suggest that desmosterol compound from the plant may
render anticancer activity against Androgen Receptor. (40)
• Antihypertensive: Study evaluated a methanolic extract of C. maxima on systolic, diastolic, mean
blood pressure and heart rate in a rat model. The methanolic extract significantly prevented the increase
in SBP, MBP, DBP, and heart rate of glucose induced hypertensive rats. (41)
• Neuroprotective / ß-Amyloid Toxicity / Leaves: Study evaluated the neuroprotective effects of an
aqueous extract of leaves of C. maxima in vivo on transgenic Aü42 model of Drosophila melanogaster, a
novel model system for a study of Alzheimer disease. Results showed potential in vivo neuroprotective
activity on D. melanogaster against beta amyloid induced neuronal death. The activity may be due to
polyphenolic content, DL-methionine. (see constituents above) (42)
• Comparative Anthelmintic Activity / Seeds: In an in vitro evaluation of anthelmintic activity of
Zingiber zerumbet rhizomes and Curcuma maxima seeds on a Pheretima posthuma mode, ZZ showed
better activity than C. maxima. (43)
• Amoebicidal / Antimicrobial / Antioxidant / Leaves and Seeds: Study evaluated the amoebicidal
activities of two medicinal plants used in Sudan viz. Adansonia digitata leaves and Cucurbita maxima
seeds against E. histolytica trophozoites in vitro. Ethanolic extracts of C. maxima exhibited 100%
inhibition at concentration of 500 µg/ml compared with metronidazole at 80% inhibition. The plants also
showed high antimicrobial activity in tested bacterial and fungal strains. The CM extract also showed
moderate antioxidant activity via DPPH free radical assay. (45)
• Antimicrobial / Flowers: Study investigated the antimicrobial activity of C. maxima flowers. Results
suggested a compound isolated from ethyl acetate fraction showed superior antibacterial and antifungal
activity against organisms such as S. typhi, E. coli. E. faecalis, B. cereus, C. lunata, and C. albicans.
(46)
• Anthelmintic / Seeds: Study evaluated the anthelmintic effect of pumpkin seeds (Cucurbita maxima)
against Aspiculuris tetraptera in naturally infected mice. Results showed the efficacies for water or
ethanol extracts of seed and ivermectin were 81, 85, and 91% compared with negative control,
respectively. Results showed high anthelmintic activity against nematodes and supports its continued
use in traditional medicines for the treatment of helminthiasis. (47)
• Diuretic / Seeds: Study evaluated the diuretic activity of C. maxima seeds at doses of 150 mg/kg and
300 mg/kg compared to standard drug furosemide. Results showed significant increase in urinary
volume, urinary and serum electrolytes secretion. The activity was more significant at 300 mg/kbw.
However, effect was not as strong as standard drug furosemide. (48)
• Hematologiical Activity / Phenylhydrazine Induced Anemia / Pulp: Phenyl hydrazine produces free
radicals during metabolism. A hydroalcoholic extract of Cucurbita maxima pulp showed hematologic
activity against phenyl hydrazine induced anemic rat. At doses of 150 and 300 mg/kg showed significant
action against the anemia. (49)
• Sensory Acceptability in Baking: Study evaluated the sensory acceptability of squash of varied
quantities of squash in baking cake, in measures of appearance, taste, color, texture, and general
acceptability. Results showed significant differences in general sensory acceptability. Being cheap, very
nutritious, and locally abundant, results suggest its use should be maximized as a key ingredient in
baking cake. (50)

Availability
- Commercial vegetable cultivation.
- Pumpkin seed oil in the cybermarket.
- Seeds in the cybermarket.

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