VALUABLE COMPOUNDS DERIVED FROM CUCURBITACEAE SUBPRODUCTS AND POTENTIAL WAYS OF ITS VALORIZATION.

The paper shows a short documentary study regarding the main valuable compounds that are present in the subproducts resulting in the fruits from the Cucurbitaceae family, with a main accent on Cucurbita sp. type pumpkins. The compound types (polyphenolic compounds, triterpenoids, carotenoidic compounds), extraction methods and the properties of bioproducts obtained in this way (antimicrobial, antitumor properties, sun protection factor) are presented. The most suitable valorization methods for waste biomass generated by Cucurbitaceae fruits are the following: 1) recovery of the carotenoids and polyphenolics compound from these, with potential applications in obtaining different dermato-cosmetical formulations, and 2) obtaining of nanomaterials with silver and gold, mediated by the phyto-compounds recovered by extraction from Cucurbitaceae peels, with potential applications in medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]