Antifungal action of Carica papaya latex: Isolation of fungal cell wall hydrolysing enzymes

Abstract

Summary. Carica papaya latex inhibits the growth of Candida albicans. Latex proteins appear to be responsible for this antifungal effect. The minimum protein concentration for producing a complete inhibition was estimated to be about 138 μg ml‐1. Exploration of different glycosidic activities shows that only α‐D‐mannosidase and N‐acetyl‐β‐D‐glucosaminidase were present in latex in important levels and they were partially purified. The two enzymes show a limited inhibitory effect on yeast growth, α‐D‐mannosidase being more efficient than N‐acetyl‐β‐D‐glucosaminidase. A mixture of the two enzymes showed a synergistic action on the inhibition of the yeast growth. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy observations showed a lack of polysac‐charidic content on outermost layers of yeast cell walls when α‐D‐mannosidase was added to the culture medium. When C. albicans was cultured in medium supplemented with N‐acetyl‐β‐D‐glucosaminidase a lack of polysaccharides was noted not only in the outermost layers of fungal cell wall but also in the inner layers. The potential utilization of latex glycosidases in combination with antifungals such as polyenes and azoles involving the formation of protoplasts is discussed. Zusammenfassung. Carica papaya‐Milchsaft hemmt das Wachstum von Candida albicans. Für diese Wirkung sind offenbar Milchsaft‐Proteine verantwortlich. Die minimale, komplett hemmende Protein‐Konzentration liegt bei 138 μg ml‐1. Die Untersuchung der einzelnen Glykosidase‐Aktivitäten ergab, daß nur α‐D‐Mannosidase und N‐Acetyl‐β‐D‐Glucosaminidase in nennenswerten Konzentrationen im Milchsaft vorkommen und daß diese Enzyme teilweise rein vorliegen. Beide Enzyme bewirken einen begrenzten Hemmeffekt auf das Hefewachstum. α‐D‐Mannosidase ist wirksamer als N‐Acetyl‐β‐D‐Glucosaminidase. Die Mischung beider zeigt einen synergistischen Effekt auf die Hefewachstumshemmung. Raster‐ und transmissionselek‐tronenmikroskopische Beobachtungen zeigten bei Zusatz von α‐D‐Mannosidase zum Kulturmedium eine Verarmung des Polysaccharidgehaltes der äußersten Hefezellwandschichten. Wurde C. albicans in N‐Acetyl‐β‐D‐Glucosaminidase‐haltigem Nährmedium kultiviert, verarmten die Hefezellwände nicht nur in den äußeren, sondern auch in den inneren Schichten an Polysacchari‐den. Die potentielle Nutzung von Milchsaft‐Glykosidasen in Kombination mit Antimyzetika wie Polyenen und Azolen zur Protoplastenbil‐dung bei Hefen wird diskutiert.

Purification and characterization of a novel thermoacidophilic and thermostable α-mannosidase from the digestive fluid of oil palm weevil Rhynchophorus palmarum (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) larvae

“…In the pharmaceutical industry, -mannosidases are currently used for treatment of mannosidosis, a congenital disorder of glycosides (CDG), by enzyme replacement therapy (Sun et al, 1999;Hirsch et al, 2003). Furthermore, it is suggested that -mannosidases be used synergistically with N-acetyl--hexosaminidase in the medical treatment of fungal diseases (Giordani et al, 1991). In vitro, -mannosidases are useful tools for enzymatic analysis of high mannose oligosaccharide structures (Maruyama et al, 1994;Misaki et al, 2003) and for oligosaccharide synthesis (Michalski et al, 1990;Athanasopoulos et al, 2004).…”

Antimicrobial Activity of Fruit Latexes from Ten Laticiferous Plants

“…Hevea bransilensis latex shows antifungal activity against Trichosprum cutaneum and Cryptococcus neoformans [5]. It also exhibits a good activity against multiple drug resistant Staphylococcus aureus (NCTC 11994), Salmonella typhimurium (ATCC 1255) and Candida albicans (ATCC 10231) [11].…”

“…It is a mixture of many pharmaceutically active substances which showed very high anti-bacterial [2], antiviral [3], antifungal [4] anti-protozoan activity. Latex from several plant species such as A. ochroleuca [2] Calotropis procera, Plumeria rubra, Carica candamarcensis, Euphorbia tirucalli (EtLP) [5], Erythrina variegata [6], Jatropha curcas, Hancornia speciosa Gomes (Apocynaceae) [7], C. procera [8], and Euphorbia lathyris [9] have shown very high antimicrobial activity. The leaves of J. curcas contain apigenin, vitexin and isovitexin, which along with other factors showed strong antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli [10].…”

“…The leaves of J. curcas contain apigenin, vitexin and isovitexin, which along with other factors showed strong antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli [10]. Hevea bransilensis showed antifungal activity against Trichosporon cutaneum and Cryptococcus neoformans [5]. It also exhibit good activity against multiple drug resistant Staphylococcus aureus (NCTC 11994) and Salmonella typhimurium (ATCC 1255) and Candida albicans (ATCC 10231) [11].…”

Use of Solar Drier Papapya Lather as a Fat Replacer in Cakes

“…From the patient reports it is cleared that it has a positive potential on hematological (Abdalla et al, 2013). Papaya juice also known as papaya milk has strong theraputical potential against fungal and bactericidal properties especially towards Candida albicans (Giordani and Siepai, 1991), hence, it is strongly useful to the protection from skin eczema caused by this fungus. Antiseptic quality of latex inhibits the growth of undesirable bacteria in human digestive system.…”