RESUMO
Pumpkin seed has been associated with myriad of medicinal uses in different part of the world. In this study, phenolic composition and Fe2+ induced thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) inhibitory ability of methanolic extract from pumpkin seeds in rat’s testes homogenates were determined. The extract was prepared with 80% methanol (v/v) and the radicals [(1,1-diphenyl–2 picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS)] scavenging, Fe2+ chelation and ferric reducing abilities of the extract were carried out. The phenolics composition was also investigated using gas chromatography couple with flame ionization detector (GC-FID). The GC analysis revealed the presence of vallinic, coumaric protocatechuic, caffeic, ferulic and sinapinic acids, and apigenin, quercetin, luteolin, kaempferol as the dominant phenolic compounds. The results revealed that the extract inhibited Fe2+-induced TBARS, scavenge DPPH radical and chelate Fe2+ in a dose dependent manner. The extract also scavenged ABTS radical and reduced Fe2+ to Fe3+. Although, the standard used had higher effect compared to the extract, nevertheless, the TBARs inhibitory potential of the extracts clearly gives an insight on the protective potentials against oxidative induce testicular damage that might lead to male infertility if unchecked. These abilities could however be linked to the presence of polyphenolic compounds.