Toxicologic Response in Mice Fed Cucurbita Fruit.

Area of Science:

• Toxicology
• Plant Science
• Food Safety

Background:

• Reports of consumer illness linked to bitter squash consumption necessitated investigation.
• Cucurbitacins are known toxic compounds found in some Cucurbita species.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the toxicity of bitter Cucurbita texana and compare it with edible Cucurbita pepo cultivars.
• To determine the cucurbitacin content in the tested squash varieties.

Main Methods:

• A 10-week mouse-feeding study using diets with varying percentages of freeze-dried squash fruit.
• Quantification of cucurbitacins E glycoside and I in Cucurbita texana.
• Hematological and growth assessments in mice.

Main Results:

• Cucurbita texana diets (1-20%) induced poor growth, diarrhea, anemia, and significant mortality (40-100%) in mice.
• Cucurbita texana contained high levels of cucurbitacins E glycoside (3.56 mg/g) and I (1.39 mg/g).
• Cucurbita pepo cultivars ('Blackjack', 'Straightneck') showed no detectable cucurbitacins and caused no toxicity in mice, even at 20% dietary inclusion.

Conclusions:

• Bitter squash (Cucurbita texana) is toxic to mice due to high cucurbitacin content.
• Edible squash cultivars (Cucurbita pepo) are safe for consumption and lack detectable cucurbitacins.
• This study validates the link between cucurbitacin levels and squash toxicity, informing food safety guidelines.