## 4 _Cucurbita_ Plants Phytochemical Composition  
Twenty-eight _Cucurbita_ species are named in the literature [48; 49], but some of them could just be hybrids or synonyms [49]. The relative lack of studies on some _Cucurbita_ species may be linked to their rarity and endemic aspect, as is the case of _Cucurbita okeechobeensis_ (Small) L.H.Bailey [50], also considered as an endangered species that must be protected [50; 51]. The potential toxicity of the wild species may also be a limiting factor [52]. Edible kinds of pumpkins and squashes, like _C. ficifolia_, _C. maxima_, _C. moschata_ and _C. pepo_ can be a natural source of some bioactive components. Indeed, these species are rich in tocopherols and carotenoids, especially the seeds and the fruit peel, respectively [53]. Generally, it is complicated to make a straight qualitative or quantitative distinction between the species, because of the high variability within a single species depending either on their subsequent varieties or environmental effects and ripening stage. This aspect is also true for other phytochemicals. Depending on the edible part, _Cucurbita_ species are found to be very rich in compounds with nutritious value, especially carbohydrates, proteins, minerals (Table 1), fatty acids (Table 2) and amino acids [53]. \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c c c c c c} \hline \hline \multirow{2}{*}{**Percentage (\%)**} & \multicolumn{6}{c}{_Cavebrits more_} & \multicolumn{6}{c}{_Cavebrits more_} & \multirow{2}{*}{**References**} \\ \cline{2-2} \cline{5-10}  & **Fresh** & **Ped** & **Seed** & **Fresh** & **Ped** & **Seed** & **Fresh** & **Ped** & **Seed** \\ \hline Carbohydrate & 4.34 & 9.63 & 14.02 & 2.62-48.04 & 4.37-19.45 & 6.37-37.9 & 13.35 & 20.68 & 12.90-24.45 \\ Protein & 0.30-189 & 1.13-4.45 & 29.81 & 0.23-15.00 & 0.92-23.95 & 27.48-38.0 & 1.13 & 1.65 & 14.31-27.48 \\ Lipid/OI & 0.00-133 & 0.31-0.66 & 28-75.67 & 0.05-0.18 & 0.47-6.57 & 21.9-54.95 & 0.42 & 0.87 & 30.57-52.63 \\ Fiber & 0.74-124 & 0.13-13.92 & 10.85 & 0.37-11.25 & 1.23-29.62 & 1.00-14.84 & 1.09 & 2.23 & 25.16-15.15 \\ Ash & 0.70-109 & 1.13-1.39 & 5.31 & 0.34-06.68 & 0.63-10.65 & 30.5-5.80 & 1.05 & 1.12 & 3.60-4.42 \\ Moisture & 89.61-9423 & 80.04-88.47 & 5.18 & 18.60-96.77 & 9.76-93.59 & 1.80-74.04 & 84.04 & 75.67 & 2.75-308 \\ \hline \multicolumn{2}{c}{**Minerals (kg/g)**} & \multicolumn{6}{c}{Macroelements} \\ \hline K & 30,1703.1 & 49.46-16.70 & 71,862.07-207.68 & NO & 160 & 2372.4 & NO & 3586.67 \\ F & 2046.93-353.36 & 6605.97-1312.84 & NO & 11.38 & 67.68 & NO & 180 & 2241.45 \\ Ca & 313.78-9854.33 & 4303.1-0865.78 & NO & 3662.0 & 5571.0 & 97.8-420.5 & NO & 3824.74 \\ Mg & 1241.01-1615.07 & 2518.87-4927.18 & NO & 190 & 674.1 & NO & 348.71 & \\ \hline Microelements & & & & & & & & \\ Na & 532.11-785.91 & 616.67-772.32 & NO & 159 & 1703.5 & NO & 30 & 296.90 \\ Fe & 25.69-33.48 & 531.84-64.09 & NO & 91.33 & 247.30 & 37.5-149.64 & NO & NO & 39.85 \\ Zn & 186.56-92.89 & 18.82-99.01 & NO & 320.50 & 42.92 & 89.29-141.4 & NO & NO & 39.85 \\ Cu & 7.40-10.42 & 2.78-81.5 & NO & 16.25 & 12.91 & 24.49 & NO & NO & ND \\ Se & NO & NO & NO & 0.0140 & 0.0127 & 12.40 & NO & NO & NO \\ Co & NO & NO & NO & NO & NO & 2.7 & NO & NO & ND \\ Mn & 0.51-650 & 2.35-14.8 & NO & 0.5 & 0.6 & NO & NO & 17.93 \\ Ni & NO & NO & NO & 0.5 & NO & NO & NO & NO \\ Pb & NO & NO & NO & 0.29 & NO & NO & NO & NO \\ Nitrate & NQ & NO & NO & NO & 22.7 & NO & NO & NO & \\ \hline \multicolumn{2}{c}{* Results expressed in dry basis; ND: Not detected; NO: Not quantified.} & \multicolumn{6}{c}{* Results expressed in dry basis; ND: Not detected; NO: Not quantified.} \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 1: Proximate composition of some common Cucurtiia spp. *. The content of carbohydrates is highly variable within each species and edible parts, starting from 2.62% to 48.40% on dry basis. In general, the seeds and peels are richer than flesh, and _C. maxima_ and _C. pepo_ were described as containing higher levels of carbohydrates when compared to _C.