Review Article
Authors: Jelena Živković (Institute for Medicinal Plants Research “Dr. Josif Pančić”, Belgrade, Serbia) , Katarina Šavikin (Institute for Medicinal Plants Research “Dr. Josif Pančić”, Belgrade, Serbia) , Gordana Zdunić (Institute for Medicinal Plants Research “Dr. Josif Pančić”, Belgrade, Serbia) , Teodora Janković (Institute for Medicinal Plants Research “Dr. Josif Pančić”, Belgrade, Serbia)
Pumpkin has been used frequently as functional food or medicine. In recent years due to numerous pharmacological effects, pumpkin polysaccahrides attract increased attention from researchers. Different investigations showed their antidiabetic, antioxidant, hypolipidemic, antibacterial and antitussive effect. Since most of the studies with pumpkin polysaccharides have been conducted either in vitro or in animal models, controlled clinical trials are strongly needed to confirm these health-beneficial effects in human subjects. The purpose of the present article is to discuss extraction and characterization of pumpkin polysaccharides as well as their biological potential that can impart further research developments with this plant for human health benefits.
Keywords: Cucurbita maxima, Cucurbita moschata, polysaccharides, diabetes.
How to Cite: Živković, J. , Šavikin, K. , Zdunić, G. & Janković, T. (2014) “MEDICINAL POTENTIAL OF CUCURBITA POLYSACCHARIDES”, Lekovite Sirovine. 34(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.5937/leksir1434045z