A sustainable approach of valorizing pumpkin fruit and by-products within the circular economy context

Cucurbita spp. are widely distributed horticultural species whose pulp, seeds, and peels generate substantial amounts of edible material and processing by-products. This review summarizes current knowledge on the agronomic and genetic factors underlying the variability among major species, particularly C. maxima, C. moschata, and C. pepo, and examines how growing conditions and cultivar selection modulate the nutritional and chemical profiles of edible pulp and processing by-products. Seeds and peels, often discarded during processing, contain high levels of dietary fiber, unsaturated lipids, minerals, and bioactive compounds, including carotenoids and phenolics, associated with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antihyperglycemic activities. Current and emerging applications in food, nutraceutical, cosmetic, and non-food sectors are also examined, highlighting opportunities for value chain development through by-product recovery. Finally, processing strategies are reviewed, particularly non-thermal technologies such as high-pressure processing and pulsed electric fields. Overall, Cucurbita matrices represent underexploited resources requiring improved compositional standardization and scalable processing approaches.