It has to be realized that the aging society requires substantial changes in both the nutrient demands and ways of alimentation. For that reason, they may also be regarded as healthy food for healthy aging. A number of their biologically active compounds were investigated for cytotoxic, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, and cardiovascular properties. Cucurbits are known to reveal wide range of medicinal properties and therefore are recognized as a functional food. The cultivated cucurbits are quite similar in terms of their requirements for growth and development but their fruit morphology (sizes, shapes, colors, pulp structure) is highly variable. The family contains also cucumbers, gourds, melons, watermelons, chilacayotes, and others. Cucurbitaceae family consists of more than 900 species and Cucurbita comprises 14 species with six subspecies and two wild varieties. In the 16th century they were introduced in Europe and since then rapidly spread worldwide.
on the territory of contemporary Mexico and Guatemala, predating corn and beans by more than 4000 years. These vegetables belong to the Cucurbita genus and they are among the oldest domesticated plants, used as early as ca. However, in the central and eastern European countries they became partly forgotten and mainly associated with puree juice and soup for the youngest children. They are also used in North American cuisines and are well known in Western Europe. Pumpkin and squash are common dish ingredients in South America, China, southern Asia, and Japan. The obtained data are discussed in the context of optimized nutrition of the elderly and suggest that Cucurbita fruits should become daily components of their diet. Most of the fruits proved to be rich sources of zinc and copper. Another popular cultivar ‘Hokkaido’ exhibited the highest antioxidant and antiradical capacities. The Japanese ‘Kogigu’ fruits were distinguished as extraordinary sources of phenolic compounds, including syringic and protocatechuic acids, catechin, and kaempferol. The results revealed high intraspecies variability within the Cucurbita genus. The content of phenolic compounds and β-carotene was evaluated with HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography), while the main macro- and micronutrients by ICP-OES (inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry). The analyses were based on the FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power), CUPRAC (cupric ion reducing antioxidant capacity), and DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical) assays. ficifolia Bouché) grown in central Europe. The study aimed to assess the antioxidant/antiradical capacities of Cucurbita fruits (18 cultivars of the species: C. Adequate antioxidant intake is a key factor of proper diet. Aging is accompanied by gradual accumulation of molecular damage within cells in response to oxidative stress resulting from adverse environmental factors, inappropriate lifestyle, and numerous diseases.
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