Pumpkin Seed Oil for Anti-Inflammatory

Research suggests that pumpkin seed oil possesses anti-inflammatory properties across a range of experimental contexts, with studies reporting reductions in inflammatory markers, oxidative stress indicators, and tissue damage in models of arthritis, parasitic infection, drug-induced intestinal and liver injury, gastric ulcers, and oral mucosal damage. The available evidence consists almost entirely of animal studies and laboratory investigations, with one 2015 mouse study additionally suggesting that unrefined pumpkin seed oil may offer greater anti-inflammatory benefit than refined versions due to its retained phytochemicals, and a 2022 encapsulation study demonstrating reduced inflammatory signaling in a reconstructed skin model alongside a small clinical hair loss trial. A 2025 review and a 2019 review each reference pumpkin seed oil's potential in conditions where inflammation plays a role, though both emphasize that the broader evidence base remains limited and that more rigorous human trials are needed. Because the large majority of findings come from animal and in vitro research, it is not yet possible to draw firm conclusions about whether these anti-inflammatory effects translate meaningfully to humans.