José Gilberto Gavidia-Valencia¹, Edmundo Arturo Venegas-Casanova², Gladys Gonzales Pósito¹, Rúben Jesus Aro-Díaz², Rafael Jara-Aguilar¹, Iris Melina Alfaro-Beltrán¹, Luisa Olivia Amaya-Lau³, Ricardo Diego Duarte Galhardo de Albuquerque^{2, 4,}

Pumpkin (Cucurbita spp.) is found in many parts of the world and is commonly used in nearby regions as traditional medicine. The aim of this literature review is to compile a comprehensive selection of recent articles related to three pumpkin species: C. maxima, C. pepo, and C. moschata, with a focus on their ethnobotanical applications, chemical composition, and biological activities. Database searches were conducted in Scopus, Science Direct, and PubMed Central, yielding 45 documents, including scientific articles and theses, after filtering. This review highlights that Cucurbita spp. have been traditionally employed to address a range of ailments such as cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis, diabetes, muscle pain, and inflammation, in addition to their use in food (ripe fruit and seeds) and dyes. Their medicinal derivatives, such as hydroethanolic extracts, have demonstrated a wide spectrum of biological activities, including anticancer, antimicrobial, and antiparasitic effects. Key active compounds include polyphenols and carotenoids, which are largely responsible for their effects in both in vitro and in vivo studies. In conclusion, the findings support the need for ongoing research into these Cucurbita species, to validate their traditional uses across different cultures worldwide and to deepen our understanding of their pharmacological mechanisms, especially regarding the interactions between phytochemicals and pharmacological effects.

ethnobotany, pharmacological activity, chemical composition, pumpkin, functional food, Cucurbita