Accumulation of antioxidative vitamins and minerals in seeds of oil pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L. var. styriaca) cultivars

Abstract

Oil pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L. var. styriaca) seeds are alternative horticultural products containing important biologically active components. The objective of the three-years study was to determine the accumulation of tocopherols (α-, β-, δ-, γ-), vitamin C, carotenoids and mineral elements selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn) in seeds of oil pumpkin cultivars Miranda, Golosemiannaja, Herakles, Danaja and Olga. Analysis of different vitamin E isomers states the predominance of γ-tocopherol, irrespective of cultivar. Seeds of cv. Miranda accumulated highest amounts of all tocopherol isomers compared with other cvs. Vitamin C was accumulated in seeds of all oil pumpkin cvs. very similarly and contents fluctuated from 4.13 to 4.53 mg/ 100 g. The highest amount of lutein was found in seeds of ‘Golosemiannaja’ (187.29 μg g-1) and the smallest amount in ‘Miranda’ (20.25 μg g-1) seeds. The highest accumulation of Se was characteristic for seeds of ‘Danaja’ (0.09 mg kg-1) and significantly lower for ‘Olga’ (0.04 mg kg-1). Our results showed that seeds of ‘Miranda’, ‘Herakles’ and ‘Golosemiannaja’ accumulated the highest amount of Zn compared to seeds of other oil pumpkin cultivars.