Pumpkin Seed

Also known as: Cucurbita pepo, pumpkin seed oil, PSO, pepita

Evidence under review. — Not yet rated

Plant seed oil with early evidence for prostate symptom relief, hair loss, and urinary incontinence.

What it does

Pumpkin seed oil is a fatty-acid-rich oil pressed from the seeds of Cucurbita pepo. Clinical trials suggest it can modestly reduce urinary symptoms in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)...
Evidence quality

Evidence base hasn't been formally rated yet. See research below.
Clinical dose

360 mg (oil) twice daily for BPH; no established dose for other uses
Found in

Halo Beauty Hair Skin Nails Booster, NOW Zinc Glycinate 120 Softgels, 310 Nutrition Vanilla Crème Shake and 8 more

What the Science Says

Pumpkin seed oil is a fatty-acid-rich oil pressed from the seeds of Cucurbita pepo. Clinical trials suggest it can modestly reduce urinary symptoms in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and may support hair regrowth in women with pattern hair loss. A combination formula containing pumpkin seed extract also showed benefit for urinary incontinence in women, though most studies are small and more research is needed.

What It Doesn't Do

Not a proven treatment for COVID-19 on its own — the squalene studies used an isolated compound extracted from pumpkin seed oil, not the oil itself. Won't replace prescription medications for prostate or hair loss conditions. No solid evidence it burns fat, boosts testosterone, or detoxes the body. Not proven to treat diabetes in humans.

Evidence-Based Benefits

Reduces urinary symptoms in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia, though less effectively than tamsulosin.

Weak Evidence

Effective at: 360 mg oil twice daily

Supporting studies (click to view on PubMed):

PMID 34666728

Topical pumpkin seed oil reduces hair shaft diversity and increases regrowing hairs in women with pattern hair loss.

Weak Evidence

Effective at: No established dose from provided studies

Supporting studies (click to view on PubMed):

PMID 33544448 PMID 41561175

A pumpkin seed extract combination formula significantly reduced urinary incontinence severity in women over 90 days.

Weak Evidence

Effective at: No established dose from provided studies

Supporting studies (click to view on PubMed):

PMID 32005419

Pumpkin seed oil significantly improved hair density in androgenetic alopecia patients versus placebo in a network meta-analysis.

Weak Evidence

Effective at: No established dose from provided studies

Supporting studies (click to view on PubMed):

PMID 41561175

Absorption & Bioavailability

Unknown — no pharmacokinetic studies were provided. Oral oil forms are used in clinical trials but absorption data is not reported.

Red Flags to Watch For

Most clinical trials are small (under 80 participants) and conducted at single centers, limiting reliability.
One study on pumpkin seed oil for intranasal use found dose-dependent cell toxicity in vitro — high concentrations may not be safe.
A paper included in this dataset was retracted, signaling quality-control issues in some pumpkin seed oil research.
BPH trial showed pumpkin seed oil was less effective than the prescription drug tamsulosin — do not substitute without medical guidance.
Urinary incontinence study used a multi-ingredient formula (Femaxeen), so benefits cannot be attributed to pumpkin seed alone.

Supplement

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310 Organic Vanilla Shake

Supplement

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does Pumpkin Seed do?

Plant seed oil with early evidence for prostate symptom relief, hair loss, and urinary incontinence.

What is the effective dose of Pumpkin Seed?

360 mg (oil) twice daily for BPH; no established dose for other uses

Is Pumpkin Seed safe?

Most clinical trials are small (under 80 participants) and conducted at single centers, limiting reliability.

What doesn't Pumpkin Seed do?

Not a proven treatment for COVID-19 on its own — the squalene studies used an isolated compound extracted from pumpkin seed oil, not the oil itself.

Research Sources

PubMed
NIH DSLD

This information is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement regimen. Last updated: 2026-05-25