{
  "slug": "pumpkin-seed-oil",
  "name": "Pumpkin Seed Oil",
  "alternate_names": [
    "Cucurbita pepo seed oil",
    "Styrian pumpkin seed oil",
    "PGI Styrian pumpkin seed oil",
    "Δ¹-phytosterol seed oil"
  ],
  "mechanism": [
    "5α-reductase inhibition proposed via Δ⁷-phytosterols (mechanistic / preclinical models; not confirmed in human pharmacodynamic studies)",
    "Unsaturated-fatty-acid (linoleic ~50% / oleic ~30%) modulation of plasma lipid fractions (research-context)",
    "Δ⁷-sterol anti-androgenic activity reported in preclinical models",
    "Antioxidant / nitric-oxide-mediated vascular effects observed in animal antihypertensive studies (research-context)"
  ],
  "target": [
    "5α-reductase enzyme",
    "DHT / androgen axis (preclinical signal)",
    "Total cholesterol / HDL-C lipid fractions",
    "Blood-pressure regulation (animal models only)"
  ],
  "use_case": [
    "hair density / FPHL markers (research-context)",
    "plasma lipid / HDL-C markers (research-context)",
    "prostate / lower-urinary-tract comfort markers (research-context)"
  ],
  "body_system": [
    "SKIN",
    "CARDIO",
    "REPRO"
  ],
  "evidence_tier": "B",
  "evidence_anchor_pmid_count": 3,
  "dosage_range": "Hair direction (topical): the single comparative RCT used a topical pumpkin seed oil preparation vs minoxidil 5% foam over 3 months. Oral lipid direction: 2 g/day oral pumpkin seed oil x 12 weeks (the postmenopausal HDL-C pilot RCT); broader lipid work cites 2-4 g/day x 6-12 weeks. Hair-loss oral-supplement programs commonly use 400-1000 mg/day, but note the human hair RCT was topical, not oral. Educational reference only, not a dosing recommendation.",
  "safety_notes": "Traditional Styrian culinary oil (PGI-protected), long food-use history, generally well tolerated in small RCTs (occasional mild GI upset). Avoid in cucurbit (squash/melon/gourd) allergy. Human efficacy limited to two small/pilot trials in narrow directions (topical hair; oral HDL in postmenopausal women); cardio and prostate directions rest on animal/preclinical data only. Not a substitute for prescribed therapy. Theoretical BP-medication interaction explored only in rats.",
  "regulatory": {
    "fda": "Legal dietary-supplement ingredient under DSHEA and an established food oil; structure/function claims only with the mandatory disclaimer; no FDA-authorized disease/health claim for pumpkin seed oil. Disease claims (hair-loss cure, BPH treatment) are prohibited.",
    "efsa": "Marketable as a traditional food oil in the EU (Styrian pumpkin seed oil holds PGI geographical-indication protection); EFSA has NOT authorized any specific pumpkin-seed-oil health claim, so functional copy is limited to ingredient-fact / nutrient-composition description.",
    "anvisa": "Permitted as a food / food-supplement ingredient in Brazil (ANVISA); no Anexo-V/specific functional claim authorized for pumpkin seed oil."
  },
  "authorized_claims": [],
  "ingredient_hub_url": "https://asxan.ai/ingredients/pumpkin-seed-oil/",
  "related_goal_slugs": [
    "hair-nail",
    "reproductive-health"
  ],
  "related_lifestyle_slugs": [
    "senior-60-plus"
  ],
  "last_evidence_review": "2026-06-13",
  "schema_version": "nc-public-v0.2",
  "api_version": "nc-public-v0.3",
  "_meta": {
    "last_evidence_review": "2026-06-13",
    "ip_axes_disclosed": {
      "public_axes": [
        "mechanism",
        "target",
        "use_case",
        "body_system",
        "evidence_tier",
        "dosage_range",
        "safety_notes",
        "regulatory",
        "authorized_claims"
      ],
      "ip_axes_not_exposed": [
        "proprietary_formula_ratios",
        "clinical_protocol_internals",
        "rnd_pipeline_compounds",
        "supplier_specific_grade_specifications",
        "unpublished_endpoint_data"
      ],
      "rationale": "asxan.ai surfaces the educational, evidence-tier-disclosed slice. Formula composition, clinical-protocol internals, and RnD pipeline data are intentionally outside this public surface."
    }
  }
}