Pumpkin has been used frequently as functional food or medicine. In recent years due to numerous pharmacological effects, pumpkin polysaccahrides attract increased attention from researchers. Different investigations showed their antidiabetic, antioxidant, hypolipidemic, antibacterial and antitussive effect. Since most of the studies with pumpkin polysaccharides have been conducted either in vitro or in animal models, controlled clinical trials are strongly needed to confirm these health-beneficial effects in human subjects. The purpose of the present article is to discuss extraction and characterization of pumpkin polysaccharides as well as their biological potential that can impart further research developments with this plant for human health benefits.
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