Chemical Profile and Promising Applications of <i>Cucurbita pepo</i> L. Flowers
Although edible flowers have been historically principally used due to their visual appeal and smell, the world is discovering their value as innovative and natural sources of bioactive compounds. <i>Cucurbita pepo</i> L. (CpL), a plant from the Cucurbitaceae family, is widely cultivated...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2024-11-01
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| Series: | Antioxidants |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/13/12/1476 |
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| Summary: | Although edible flowers have been historically principally used due to their visual appeal and smell, the world is discovering their value as innovative and natural sources of bioactive compounds. <i>Cucurbita pepo</i> L. (CpL), a plant from the Cucurbitaceae family, is widely cultivated for its edible fruits and flowers, which are rich in polyphenols and carotenoids—compounds known for their potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Despite their potential, the use of CpL flowers for skin-related applications remains underexplored. This study aimed to comprehensively analyze CpL flower extract (CpLfe), focusing on its polyphenolic and carotenoid content using, for the first time, advanced UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS and HPLC-DAD analysis. CpLfe highlighted remarkable antioxidant activity according to the DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP tests. CpLfe showed significantly reduced intracellular ROS in HaCaT (23%, <i>p</i> < 0.05) and protected against UVB-induced damage by lowering MMP-1 expression. CpLfe also upregulated genes crucial for skin hydration (AQP3) and barrier function (CerS2, CerS4, and CerS6). A placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial further validated CpLfe efficacy, demonstrating marked improvements in moisture retention, wrinkle reduction, and collagen production in women aged 35–55. These findings suggested that CpL flowers could be a source of bioactive compounds recovered from edible flowers able to improve the major skin aging and photoaging features. |
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| ISSN: | 2076-3921 |