Journal de biochimie et de physiologie végétales
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Winter squash (Cucurbita moschata D.) Displays Promising Nutritional Aspects in Fruits, Seeds and in the Seed Oil

Silva Gomes R*, Freitas de Almeida C, Ravaneli Chagas R, Machado Júnior R, Sorotori Fara J, José Henriques da Silva D

The fruits of winter squash (Cucurbita moschata D.) are important sources of bioactive components such as carotenoids, phenolic compounds, and flavonoids. The seed oil of C. moschata has a high content of unsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids, associated with high levels of antioxidant components, making its use promising for human consumption. In this review, we address the genetic variability expressed by the germplasm of C. moschata, the nutritional aspects of fruit pulp and seed oil, emphasizing the importance of this vegetable in human feeding.