Cucurbita pepo Seed Extract and Green-Synthesized Silver Nanoparticles: Antioxidant, Phytochemical, and Antibacterial Properties

Abstract
Cucurbita pepo seeds are rich in bioactive compounds and have been traditionally used for their therapeutic properties. In this study, acetone and ethanol extracts of C. pepo seeds were evaluated for their antioxidant capacity, vitamin content, and antibacterial potential. Both extracts exhibited strong antioxidant activity, closely associated with their phenolic, flavonoid, Ferric-Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP), and Metal Chelating Capacity (MCC) values. High levels of carotenoids, \r\nα-tocopherol, and retinyl acetate were detected, while water-soluble vitamins such as vitamin C, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, and biotin were comparatively lower. HPLC analysis revealed significant amounts of caffeine (99.39\r\nμg/mL), rutin (30.26μg/mL), and luteolin (54.12μg/mL) in ethanol extracts relative to acetone extracts. Furthermore, a green synthesis route for Silver Nanoparticles (AgNPs) was developed using C. pepo seed extract, yielding nanoparticles of 5–100nm in size. The AgNPs were characterized by XRD, FE-SEM, EDX, and UV–Vis spectroscopy, and both the nanoparticles and crude extracts demonstrated notable antioxidant and antibacterial activities. These findings highlight the potential of C. pepo seeds as a sustainable source of bioactive compounds and eco-friendly nanomaterials for biomedical applications.

Author
Rzgar Faruq Rashid

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1142/S2251237325500273

ISSN
2251-2381

Publish Date: 3-Oct-2025