Pumpkin skin a possible new treatment for candida

In a new study, Kyung-Soo Hahm, Yoonkyung Park and colleagues extracted proteins from pumpkin rinds to see if the proteins inhibit the growth of microbes, including Candida albicans (C. albicans), the fungus causes vaginal yeast infections, diaper rash in infants, and other health problems.
One protein had powerful effects in inhibiting the growth of C. albicans, in cell culture experiments, with no obvious toxic effects and it is possible that this could be developed into a natural medicine for fighting yeast infections in humans.

The protein also blocked the growth of several fungi that attack important plant crops and could be useful as an agricultural fungicide, they add.

Journal Reference:
Park et al. Antifungal Mechanism of a Novel Antifungal Protein from Pumpkin Rinds against Various Fungal Pathogens. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2009; 57 (19): 9299 DOI: 10.1021/jf902005g

First Published in October 2009

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