Comparative In-vitro Antifungal Activity and Phytochemical Profiling of Flaxseeds (Linum usitatissimum) and Pumpkin Seeds (Cucurbita pepo)

Abstract

Fungal infections have become a growing public health concern due to increasing resistance to conventional antifungal drugs and their associated toxicity. This study aimed to investigate the phytochemical composition and comparatively evaluate the in vitro antifungal activity of flax seeds (Linum usitatissimum) and pumpkin seeds (Cucurbita spp.), two widely consumed functional foods with potential medicinal properties. Seeds and their oils were procured from a local distributor in Nellore, India, and subjected to pharmacognostical evaluation including organoleptic analysis and preliminary phytochemical screening using standard qualitative tests. Antifungal activity was assessed against Aspergillus species using Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA) medium by measuring the zone of inhibition after incubation. Phytochemical screening confirmed the presence of several bioactive constituents such as alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, carbohydrates, proteins, sterols, and fixed oils in both seed samples. The antifungal assay revealed measurable inhibition of fungal growth in all tested samples. Ground flax seed extract produced the highest zone of inhibition (4.3 cm), followed by pumpkin seed extract (3.7 cm), pumpkin seed oil (3.0 cm), and flax seed oil (1.8 cm). These findings indicate that both seeds possess notable antifungal potential, likely due to their rich phytochemical composition. In conclusion, flax seeds and pumpkin seeds demonstrate promising natural antifungal activity and may serve as potential sources for the development of plant-based antifungal agents, although further detailed studies are required to confirm their mechanisms and clinical applicability.