Home Ingredients Cucurbidiol® (Pumpkin Seed Oil — Cucurbita)
Kidney/Urinary Tract

Cucurbidiol® (Pumpkin Seed Oil — Cucurbita)

Cucurbita pepo
Evidence Level
Preliminary
1 Clinical Trial
3 Documented Benefits
1/5 Evidence Score

Cucurbidiol® is a branded pumpkin seed (Cucurbita) oil ingredient supplying phytosterols, fatty acids, and zinc. The one human trial cited on this page did not test Cucurbidiol®; it used pumpkin seed oil from Cucurbita maxima at 10 g per day for 12 weeks in 45 adults with overactive bladder, and the symptom score fell significantly. Nothing cited here measured prostate size, PSA, urinary flow rate, hair, or any outcome specific to men.

Studied Dose Supplement labels commonly supply around 500 mg to 1 g of pumpkin seed oil per day, but the only cited trial used 10 g per day. That is a tablespoon-scale dose of oil rather than a capsule dose, so a 500 mg softgel delivers about one twentieth of the amount studied.
Active Compound Pumpkin seed (Cucurbita pepo) oil rich in phytosterols, fatty acids, and zinc.

Benefits

Urinary comfort (traditional use)

Pumpkin seed oil has a long traditional use for urinary comfort. No study cited on this page measured prostate size, PSA, an International Prostate Symptom Score, or urinary flow rate, so this page makes no prostate claim.

Supported by Trial 1

Bladder symptom score in one 45-person trial

In the single cited trial, 45 adults with overactive bladder took 10 g per day of pumpkin seed oil from Cucurbita maxima for 12 weeks, and their Overactive Bladder Symptom Score fell significantly. Cucurbidiol® was not the material tested, and the participants' sex was not reported.

Supported by Trial 1

Hair claims (uncited)

Pumpkin seed oil is sometimes marketed for hair. This page cites no study of hair and no study of hormone pathways, so treat that explanation as speculation rather than a demonstrated effect.

Supported by Trial 1

Mechanism of action

1

Phytosterol action

Pumpkin seed oil supplies phytosterols and fatty acids, and an effect on hormone metabolism is one proposed explanation. It remains a hypothesis. The cited trial recorded only urinary symptom scores and did not test any mechanism or any prostate endpoint.

2

Bladder-tone support

Bladder and pelvic muscle tone is one proposed explanation for the symptom-score change seen in the cited trial. That trial recorded only a symptom questionnaire score and did not measure bladder tone, so the mechanism is unconfirmed.

Clinical trials

1
Pumpkin Seed Oil in Overactive Bladder (n=45, 12 weeks)
PubMed

Pumpkin seed oil from Cucurbita maxima, 10 g per day for 12 weeks. (Nishimura et al. 2014, Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine, PMID 24872936). This is the only reference on the page, and it did not test Cucurbidiol®.

45 adults with overactive bladder. The abstract does not state the participants' sex.

The Overactive Bladder Symptom Score fell significantly. No prostate measure was taken, so the result says nothing about prostate health, and overactive bladder is not a prostate condition.

Side effects and drug interactions

Common Potential side effects

Generally well-tolerated.
Mild digestive upset is occasionally reported. The 10 g per day of oil used in the cited study is roughly 90 calories of fat, which is a tablespoon-scale amount rather than a capsule dose and can be enough to loosen stools.
See a doctor for persistent urinary symptoms to rule out other causes.

Important Drug interactions

Blood pressure medication — pumpkin seed may have a mild additive effect; monitor.
Diuretics — possible additive effect.
Tell your doctor about any persistent urinary symptoms before self-treating.

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Frequently asked questions about Cucurbidiol® (Pumpkin Seed Oil — Cucurbita)

What is Cucurbidiol?

Cucurbidiol® is a branded pumpkin seed (Cucurbita) oil ingredient supplying phytosterols, fatty acids, and zinc. The one human trial cited on this page did not test Cucurbidiol®; it used pumpkin seed oil from Cucurbita maxima at 10 g per day for 12 weeks in 45 adults with overactive bladder, and the symptom score fell…

What is Cucurbidiol used for?

Cucurbidiol is researched primarily for Kidney/Urinary Tract. Pumpkin seed oil has a long traditional use for urinary comfort. No study cited on this page measured prostate size, PSA, an International Prostate Symptom Score, or urinary flow rate, so this page makes no prostate claim.

What is the recommended dosage of Cucurbidiol?

The clinically studied dose is Supplement labels commonly supply around 500 mg to 1 g of pumpkin seed oil per day, but the only cited trial used 10 g per day. That is a tablespoon-scale dose of oil rather than a capsule dose, so a 500 mg softgel delivers about one twentieth of the amount st… Always follow the product label and check with a healthcare provider for personal advice.

Is Cucurbidiol safe, and does it have side effects?

For most healthy adults, Cucurbidiol is well tolerated at studied doses. Reported effects can include: Generally well-tolerated. Mild digestive upset is occasionally reported. The 10 g per day of oil used in the cited study is roughly 90 calories of fat, which is a tablespoon-scale amount rather than a capsule dose and can be enough to loosen stools. It may also interact with some medications. Cucurbidiol is not right for everyone, so check with a healthcare provider first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a medical condition, or take prescription medication.

Does Cucurbidiol interact with any medications?

Possible interactions include: Blood pressure medication — pumpkin seed may have a mild additive effect; monitor. Diuretics — possible additive effect. If you take prescription medication, check with a pharmacist or doctor before using it.

How strong is the scientific evidence for Cucurbidiol?

NutraSmarts rates the evidence for Cucurbidiol as Preliminary (1 out of 5). It is backed by 1 clinical trial and 1 cited reference summarized on this page. A higher rating reflects more, larger, and better-designed human studies.

References(1 citations)

Evidence ratings on NutraSmarts are based on the totality of human clinical research, with emphasis on randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews. The references below directly support claims made throughout this page.

  1. Nishimura M, Ohkawara T, Sato H, et al. Pumpkin Seed Oil Extracted From Cucurbita maxima Improves Urinary Disorder in Human Overactive Bladder. J Tradit Complement Med. 2014;4(1):72-4..PubMedUsed to support: Overactive bladder symptom scores in 45 adults given 10 g per day of Cucurbita maxima pumpkin seed oil for 12 weeks. Does not address prostate outcomes and does not name Cucurbidiol®.