Total phenolic, flavonoid contents and antioxidant activity of ethanolic extracts (Leaves and Fruit) of Cucurbita maxima Duch. ex Lam

Cucurbita maxima known as pumpkin belongs to the family Cucurbitaceae, widely used in traditional medicine.

The present work evaluates the antioxidant activity of the different parts (leaves and fruit) of Cucurbita maxima. Antioxidant activity was assessed through the DPPH test and the β-carotene bleaching test.

The results showed that the ethanolic extract of fruit and leaves are rich in polyphenols, flavonoids and tannin with values, respectively (50.13±4.49 mg EAG/g dry extract), (0.75±3.64 mg EQ/g dry extract) and (477.05±6.67 mg EAT/g dry extract) for the fruit, (27.37±0.95 mg EAG/g dry extract), (1.83±0.28 mg EQ/g dry extract) and (481.69±5.77 mg EAT/g dry extract) for leaves. The ethanolic extract showed scavenger activity IC₅₀ is 0.41±1.20 μg/ml fruit and 0.18±0.06 μg/ml leaf compared with 0.01±0.01 μg/ml BHT (Butylated hydroxytoluene). The results obtained in the β-carotene bleaching test of the ethanolic extracts of the leaves and fruit of Cucurbita maxima is of the order (70.13±13.84%) and (67.69±13.82%) respectively.