This study was conducted to develop a optimal composite recipe of a functional muffin including Sweet pumpkin powder and to have the high preference to all age groups. Wheat flour was partically substituted by Sweet pumpkin powder to reduce the content of wheat flour. This study has produced the sensory optimal composite recipe by making muffin, respectively, with each 5 level of Sweet pumpkin powder(X1), sugar(X2), butter(X3), by C.C.D(Central Composite Design) and conducting sensory evaluation and instrumental analysis by means of RSM(Response Surface Methodology). Sensory items showed very significant values in appearance, flavor, texture, overall quality(p<0.05), color(p<0.01), and instrumental analysis showed significant values in lightness, redness(p<0.01), yellowness(p<0.001), hardness, gumminess(p<0.05). Also sensory optimal ratio of Sweet pumpkin muffin was calculated as Sweet pumpkin powder 29.5g, sugar 72.6g, butter 79.3g, and it was revealed that the factors of influencing muffin aptitude were in order of Sweet pumpkin powder, butter, sugar.
Aptitude ; Butter ; Cucurbita* ; Flour ; Hardness ; Humans ; Triticum

Powdery mildew is one of the most devastating diseases in cucurbits. Crop yield can decline as the disease severity increases. In this study, we evaluated the effect of silver nanoparticles against powdery mildew under different cultivation conditions in vitro and in vivo . Silver nanoparticles (WA-CV-WA13B) at various concentrations were applied before and after disease outbreak in plants to determine antifungal activities. In the field tests, the application of 100 ppm silver nanoparticles showed the highest inhibition rate for both before and after the outbreak of disease on cucumbers and pumpkins. Also, the application of 100 ppm silver nanoparticles showed maximum inhibition for the growth of fungal hyphae and conidial germination in in vivo tests. Scanning electron microscope results indicated that the silver nanoparticles caused detrimental effects on both mycelial growth and conidial germination.
Cucumis sativus ; Cucurbita ; Disease Outbreaks ; Electrons ; Germination ; Hyphae ; Nanoparticles ; Silver

To elucidate the effect of a 4 week dietary supplementation with pumpkin water extract on serum lipid and fasting glucose levels, 41 female collegians residing in the Gyeonggi area were recruited. The subjects were divided into three groups: placebo-control (PC, n=11), treatment A (TA, 100 ml/day, n=13), and treatment B (TB, 300 ml/day, n=17). Total serum cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), and fasting glucose were analyzed. The average age, height, weight, and body mass index of the subjects were 21.3 years, 161.1 cm, 53.0 kg, and 20.4 kg/m2, respectively. The average total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, TG, and fasting glucose level (mg/dl) were 171.4+/-26.1, 63.5+/-11.4, 92.6+/-22.9, 76.8+/-32.0, and 89.1+/-8.2, respectively. There were no significant differences among the three groups in any measured parameters, and between the pre- and post-study values of the all parameters. The results indicated that the 4 week pumpkin water extract supplementation (100 ml, 300 ml) did not influence the serum total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, TG and fasting glucose level in female collegians.
Body Mass Index ; Cholesterol ; Cucurbita ; Dietary Supplements ; Fasting ; Female ; Glucose ; Humans ; Lipoproteins ; Water

In the course of survey of endophytic fungi from Bangladesh pumpkin seeds in 2011~2012, two strains (CNU111042 and CNU111043) with similar colony characteristics were isolated and characterized by their morphology and by molecular phylogenetic analysis of the internal transcribed spacer, glyceraldehydes-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (gpd), and Alternaria allergen a1 (Alt a1) sequences. Phylogenetic analysis of all three sequences and their combined dataset revealed that the fungus formed a subclade within the A. alternata clade, matching A. burnsi and showing differences with its other closely related Alternaria species, such as A. longipes, A. tomato, and A. tomaticola. Long ellipsoid, obclavate or ovoid beakless conidia, shorter and thinner conidial size (16~60 [90] x 6.5~14 [~16] microm) distinguish this fungus from other related species. These isolates showed more transverse septation (2~11) and less longitudinal septation (0~3) than did other related species. Moreover, the isolate did not produce any diffusible pigment on media. Therefore, our results reveal that the newly recorded fungus from a new host, Cucurbita maxima, is Alternaria burnsii Uppal, Patel & Kamat.
Alternaria* ; Bangladesh* ; Cucurbita* ; Dataset ; Fungi ; Lycopersicon esculentum ; Oxidoreductases ; Phylogeny ; Spores, Fungal ; Virulence*

Animals ; Blood Glucose ; Cucurbita ; chemistry ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; drug therapy ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; pharmacology ; Lipids ; blood ; Oxidative Stress ; Polysaccharides ; pharmacology ; Rats

β-carotene is present in carrots, pumpkins, and sweet potatoes. It suppresses many types of cancers by regulating cellular proliferation and apoptosis through a variety of mechanisms. However, the effects of β -carotene on oral cancer cells have not been clearly established. The main goal of this study was to investigate the effects of β-carotene on cell growth and apoptosis in oral cancer cells. Our results demonstrate that treatment with β-carotene induced inhibition of cell growth, and that the effect was dependent on β-carotene treatment time and concentration in KB cells. Furthermore, treatment with β-carotene induced nuclear condensation and fragmentation in KB cells. β-carotene promoted proteolytic cleavage of procaspase-3, -7, -8 and -9 with associated increases in the concentration of cleaved caspase-3, -7, -8 and -9. In addition, the level of cleaved PARP was increased by β-carotene treatment in KB cells. These results suggest that β-carotene can suppress cell growth and induce apoptosis in KB human oral cancer cells, and that it may have potential usefulness in anti-cancer drug discovery efforts.
Apoptosis ; Caspase 3 ; Cell Death ; Cell Proliferation ; Cucurbita ; Daucus carota ; Drug Discovery ; Humans* ; Ipomoea batatas ; KB Cells ; Mouth Neoplasms*

This study was conducted to survey multiple factors of aversion to vegetables and preferences for vegetable-related recipes in school meal services among elementary school children in order to help develop various menus and recipes for school meal services. Questionnaire survey was carried out with the study subjects, who were 401 children in 6th grade attending elementary schools in Chonnam and Kwangju metropolitan regions. Results from the survey can be summarized as follows: 65.1% of respondents answered they try to eat vegetables and other namul side dishes served in school meal service for health. As for the frequency of taking vegetables and namul side dishes out of daily meals, 47.4% of respondents chose 'once or twice'. The reasons for aversion to vegetables in boys were taste and cooking method, while girls were taste and feeling between teeth. In boys there were no differences between regions of Kwangju and Chonnam but the tendency of aversion to vegetables was significantly high in girls. As for the aspects of vegetable aversion of subjects, 46.9% of respondents took up 'black & purple' in the unfavorable color of vegetables. 49.1% in 'bitterness' and 39.2% in 'greasiness''were in terms of the aversive taste of vegetables. The aversive vegetable recipes were 58.6% in 'raw &seasoned' and the unfavorable feeling of vegetables were 53.1% in 'squashiness'. There were differences between regions of Kwangju and Chonnam with boys in color and cooking method in girls. Results from the survey on their preferences for vegetable recipes showed that leafy vegetables like crown daisy (raw/slightly seasoned) and pak choi (broth/pot stew) fell to the most aversive category, while bean sprouts (broth/pot stew) were chosen as the most favorable one. Among root begetables bell-flowers were found to belong to the least preferred recipe, while potatoes were proven to be most preferable in terms of recipes. As for fruit vegetables and other vegetables, all respondents didn't like 'fatsia shoots' vegetable and it's cooking method and they preferred 'green pumpkins (broth/pot stew)'. In respect of mushrooms, enoki mushroom (broth/pot stew) was found most preferred and had high tendency of preferences in boys and girls in Kwangju compared with Chonnam region. The study results indicated that respondents did not show big differences in factors influencing them to be averse to vegetables and their preferences for vegetable recipes depending on regions. In order to have high preference and intake in children's diets, it needs to study in reform of menu about using namul or vegetables mixed with meats and fruits that children preferred or applying roasted and fried other less than namul.
Agaricales ; Child ; Cooking ; Crowns ; Cucurbita ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Diet ; Flammulina ; Fruit ; Humans ; Meals ; Meat ; Solanum tuberosum ; Tooth ; Vegetables

Pumpkins have considerable variation in nutrient contents depending on the cultivation environment, species, or part. In this study, the general chemical compositions and some bioactive components, such as tocopherols, carotenoids, and beta-sitosterol, were analyzed in three major species of pumpkin (Cucurbitaceae pepo, C. moschata, and C. maxima) grown in Korea and also in three parts (peel, flesh, and seed) of each pumpkin species. C. maxima had significantly more carbohydrate, protein, fat, and fiber than C. pepo or C. moschata (P < 0.05). The moisture content as well as the amino acid and arginine contents in all parts of the pumpkin was highest in C. pepo. The major fatty acids in the seeds were palmitic, stearic, oleic, and linoleic acids. C. pepo and C. moschata seeds had significantly more gamma-tocopherol than C. maxima, whose seeds had the highest beta-carotene content. C. pepo seeds had significantly more beta-sitosterol than the others. Nutrient compositions differed considerably among the pumpkin species and parts. These results will be useful in updating the nutrient compositions of pumpkin in the Korean food composition database. Additional analyses of various pumpkins grown in different years and in different areas of Korea are needed.
Arginine ; beta Carotene ; Carotenoids ; Cucurbita ; Fatty Acids ; gamma-Tocopherol ; Korea ; Linoleic Acid ; Linoleic Acids ; Nutritive Value ; Seeds ; Sitosterols ; Tocopherols

BACKGROUND: Postpartum telogen effluvium refers to a phenomenon in which some hair in the growth phase progresses rapidly to the resting phase, which leads to excessive hair loss. This causes a high level of psychological stress. Therefore, an increasing number of women are seeking treatment for this condition. METHODS: The subjects of this study were postpartum women in the age range of 20 to 40 years who visited a university hospital between June 2015 and May 2016. Seven patients out of a total of 25 subjects were excluded, and their final follow-up visits were not performed because they found it difficult to return for the follow-up. After screening before delivery, the subjects were provided with hair care products. They visited the hospital 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months after giving birth. During each visit, the hair density and thickness were measured by photographing with a camera and using Folliscope® (Aram Huvis Corporation, Seoul, Korea). RESULTS: The hair thickness at the V-point improved from 0.089 µm at the baseline to 0.094 µm after using the shampoo for 3 months (P=0.028), and the hair density at the P-point increased significantly, from 75.24/cm² at the baseline to 81.33/cm² after using the shampoo for 3 months (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, a shampoo and a tonic in which the main material was horse placental growth factor combined with various materials, such as pumpkin extract, panthenol, and niacinamide, were clinically applied.
Alopecia ; Cucurbita ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; G0 Phase ; Hair* ; Horses ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Niacinamide ; Parturition ; Postpartum Period* ; Seoul ; Stress, Psychological

BACKGROUND: Postpartum telogen effluvium refers to a phenomenon in which some hair in the growth phase progresses rapidly to the resting phase, which leads to excessive hair loss. This causes a high level of psychological stress. Therefore, an increasing number of women are seeking treatment for this condition. METHODS: The subjects of this study were postpartum women in the age range of 20 to 40 years who visited a university hospital between June 2015 and May 2016. Seven patients out of a total of 25 subjects were excluded, and their final follow-up visits were not performed because they found it difficult to return for the follow-up. After screening before delivery, the subjects were provided with hair care products. They visited the hospital 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months after giving birth. During each visit, the hair density and thickness were measured by photographing with a camera and using Folliscope® (Aram Huvis Corporation, Seoul, Korea). RESULTS: The hair thickness at the V-point improved from 0.089 µm at the baseline to 0.094 µm after using the shampoo for 3 months (P=0.028), and the hair density at the P-point increased significantly, from 75.24/cm² at the baseline to 81.33/cm² after using the shampoo for 3 months (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, a shampoo and a tonic in which the main material was horse placental growth factor combined with various materials, such as pumpkin extract, panthenol, and niacinamide, were clinically applied.
Alopecia ; Cucurbita ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; G0 Phase ; Hair* ; Horses ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Niacinamide ; Parturition ; Postpartum Period* ; Seoul ; Stress, Psychological