Quality parameters of pumpkin seed oil from different cultivars grown in Lithuania

Pumpkin seed oil is rich in nutrients and can be considered a superfood as it rich in essential vitamins, protein, minerals, antioxidants and good fats. This oil is becoming now more popular because oil quality and great resource of beneficial ingredient appropriate for various illness prevention, especially for cancer, heart and prostate diseases. The objective of this research was to evaluate quality parameters of pumpkin seeds oil from Cucurbita pepo L. 'Miranda', 'Golosemiannaja', 'Herakles' cultivars grown in Lithuania. Pumpkin seeds oil were analysed by standards methods for peroxide value, acid value, fatty acids, total phenolic contents and antioxidant activity measured by the DPPH method. The four dominant fatty acids found in pumpkin seed oil - palmitic, stearic, oleic and linoleic. The oil contains an appreciable amount of unsaturated fatty acids (about 83%) and found to be rich source of linoleic acid (66 %). Pumpkin seeds oil recognized as a good source of phenolic compounds. The highest amount of total phenolic was found in seeds of cv. 'Golosemianaja' and 'Miranda'. The highest antioxidant activity was displayed from pumpkin seeds of cv. 'Miranda' and little less – in 'Golosemianaja'. Antioxidant activity increased proportionally to the total phenolic content and a linear relationship between DPPH-radical scavenging activity and total phenolics was established. The important indicators for oil quality assessment are the acid value and number of peroxide. They have been compared with maximum allowed amount, which were indicated in Codex Standard for Vegetable Oils. The best quality oil was prepared form 'Golosemianaja' seeds. The best antioxidant properties have been established in pumpkin seed oil of Miranda cultivarVytauto Didžiojo universitetasŽemės ūkio akademij