Reporting in the American Chemical Society’s Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, Chosun University scientists from Kwangju, South Korea, say they extracted a protein from pumpkin rinds called Pr-2 that battles the fungus that causes vaginal yeast infections, diaper rash, and other health problems.

Or consider this one (and many more like it):

Pumpkin Skin May Scare Away Germs

The scientists extracted proteins from pumpkin rinds to see if the proteins inhibit the growth of microbes, including Candida albicans (C. albicans). That 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.

All apparently based on Antifungal Mechanism of a Novel Antifungal Protein from Pumpkin Rinds against Various Fungal Pathogens, J. Agric. Food Chem., 2009, 57 (19), pp 9299–9304

Speaking of antifungals, I posted some information on antifungal susceptibility testing at MycoTechnica.

What the heck I found a crazy video called Skank Foot Antifungal Foot Flour and put it at Fungal Visions.

Well heck yeah!

Perusing the magazine shelf at the library I spotted the cover of Martha Stewart Living. Now normally I would not even notice that mag, but something caught my eye. Mushrooms!

Look!

October 2009 Edition of Martha Stewart Living

On page 54 of the October edition of the magazine there is a short piece about making decorative mushrooms using pumpkins and gourds. (Note: Pumpkins and gourds will be harmed by this project).