A synergistic effect of Carica papaya latex sap and fluconazole on Candida albicans growth.

A mixture of Carica papaya latex (0.41 mg protein ml-1) and fluconazole (2 micrograms ml-1) showed a synergistic action on the inhibition of Candida albicans growth. Thus, with this mixture an equivalent inhibition rate was observed to that obtained when C. albicans was cultured in a medium supplemented with a two-fold concentration (4 micrograms ml-1) of fluconazole alone. This synergistic effect resulted in partial cell wall degradation as indicated by transmission electron microscopy observations. An increase of fluconazole concentration from 2 micrograms ml-1 to 4 micrograms ml-1 involved a small decrease of MIC 80% from latex (150 to 130 micrograms protein ml-1). Measure of MIC 80% from fluconazole mixed with latex in a subinhibitory concentration (85 micrograms protein ml-1) allows the determination of an effective fluconazole concentration (4 micrograms ml-1) inferior to mean plasmatic dose observed in human therapy. The potential therapeutic use of latex in combination with a synthetic antifungal is discussed.