Study: Pumpkin skin may repel germs

KWANGJU, South Korea, Oct. 29 (UPI) -- South Korean scientists say they've determined a substance in pumpkin skin can repel germs that cause millions of cases of yeast infections annually.

Chosun University researchers say some disease-causing microbes are becoming resistant to existing antibiotics, causing scientists to search for new bacterial treatments.

In the study, Kyung-Soo Hahm, Yoonkyung Park and colleagues noted pumpkins have long been used as folk medicine in some countries. So the scientists said they extracted proteins from pumpkin rinds to see if the proteins inhibit the growth of microbes, including Candida albicans, a fungus that causes vaginal yeast infections, diaper rash in infants and other health problems.

They discovered one protein had powerful effects in inhibiting the growth of C. albicans in cell culture experiments, with no obvious toxic effects.

They said the pumpkin protein could be developed into a natural medicine for fighting yeast infections in humans, as well as blocking growth of several fungi that attack important plant crops.

The research appears in The Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.