Fungicidal activity of latex sap from Carica papaya and antifungal effect of D(+)-glucosamine on Candida albicans growth.

Carica papaya latex sap inhibits the growth of Candida albicans when added to a culture during the exponential growth phase. Approximately 60% was achieved. This fungistatic effect is the result of cell wall degradation due to a lack of polysaccharidic constituents in the outermost layers of the fungal cell wall and release of cell debris into the culture medium. When C. albicans was cultured on medium supplemented with D(+)-glucosamine, an inhibitor of N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase, growth was inhibited (34%) in a similar manner. Addition of D(+)-glucosamine during the exponential growth phase also had a fungistatic effect (26%). The modes of action of C. papaya latex and of D(+)-glucosamine in cell wall breakdown are discussed.