Candida, an annoying infection known to many women, could be defeated with a medicinal herb, Gymnema sylvestre. To discover the beneficial properties of this plant and the effects against this infection was a study carried out at the Kansas State University
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La candida, an annoying infection known to many ladies, could be defeated with a medicinal herb, the sylvestre gymnema. To discover the beneficial properties of this plant and the effects against this infection was a study carried out at the Kansas State University.
La sylvestre gymnema is already known in the medicine Chinese and Ayurvedic for its hypoglycemic properties. It helps regulate glucose levels in the intestine. This climbing plant lives mainly in India, China and Australia. But for the first time it was used successfully to treat a very common human saprophytic fungus, called candida albicans
The latter is found in the mouth, intestines and vagina and can sometimes cause a rather annoying infection. The new study, led by Govindsamy Vediyappan, assistant professor of biology, was successful on two levels. First, the research team found that the medicinal compound it is not toxic. Secondly, blocks the virulence of the fungus in order to make the infection more treatable.
"We have shown that this compound is safe to use because it does not harm the cells of our body, but it blocks the virulence of this fungus in vitro," he said Seeyappan. "Taking the drug could potentially help patients control invasive growth of the fungus and also help lower their sugar levels." Thanks to its attractive principle, thegymnemic acid.
The extract of sylvestre gymnema it is commonly used to treat diabetes and other ailments because it is an inexpensive and effective treatment, according to Vediyappan. While the Vedyappan team's research isn't the first to uncover the plant's positive health effects, the novelty is that it has understood Gymnema's ability to defeat candida.
But not only. L'acid gimnemico is able to counteract the growth of Aspergillus, another pathogenic fungus that can affect heart transplant patients or patients suffering from leukemia.
Nature still offers its tools.
Francesca Mancuso
Photo: WiseGeek
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