336 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL, CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES NUTRITIONAL COMPOSITION AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF PUMPKIN WASTES

K Mala, Anjali Kurian
IJPCBS   unpublished
The waste generated during processing of pumpkin is in the form of peel and pulp. The present study aims to evaluate the proximate parameters and antioxidant potential of processing wastes from pumpkins. The peel and pulp wastes were oven dried, powdered and analysed for moisture, protein, ash, crude fibre, dietary fibre, β-carotene and minerals like phosphorus and iron. The methanol extracts prepared from the powdered peel and pulp was used for determining total polyphenols and antioxidant
more » ... vity. The peel was found to be a good source of minerals like phosphorus (319.33 mg/100 gm) and iron (42.99 mg/100 gm) and dietary fibre (28.81%). The pulp was found to be a rich source of β-carotene (142.38 mg/100 gm). The peel and pulp samples presented almost similar values of polyphenols and antioxidants. Also, the peel and pulp exhibited a similar dose-dependent inhibition of DPPH activity. Overall, the results show that pumpkin wastes can be exploited for the nutrient and antioxidant components and used for value addition in food formulations. Hence, this study can pave the way for utilisation of bio-wastes from the pumpkin.
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