Pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima) seed oil was extracted using supercritical carbon dioxide and the
physicochemical properties of the oil were determined. A central composite rotatable design was used
to analyse the impact of extraction parameters (temperature, time and pressure) and a response surface
methodology was used to obtain optimal extraction conditions for the maximum oil yield. All three variables
studied were significant demonstrating quadratic effects. The maximum yield of the extracted oil
was 30.7% and the optimum conditions were 32,140 kPa and 68.1 C for 94.6 min which was within
the experimental domain. Physicochemical properties of the oil showed that the extracted oil could be
used as food oil supplement.