Antifungal and prophylactic activity of pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata) extract against Aspergillus flavus and aflatoxin B1

Abstract

The antifungal effect of pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata) fruit aqueous extract against Aspergillus flavus was investigated in vitro. The result showed that incubation of different pumpkin aqueous extract (0.5 to 2%) with living mass of the fungus has suppressive effect on the fungal growth after 6 days compared with untreated control sample. However 2% of pumpkin aqueous extract was the most effective in inhibiting the fungal growth. The protective efficacy of pumpkin fruit aqueous extract against either A. flavus fungus infection or aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) toxicity induced renal damage in rats was also investigated. A. flavus and AFB1 were administered intraperitoneally (0.1 ml/100 g of body weight) for 15 consecutive days. The result revealed that infection of rats with A. flavus or intoxication with AFB1 significantly induced renal damage as indicated by marked increased levels of serum urea, uric acid and creatinine as well as histopathological pictures compared with normal healthy rats. Oral co-administration of aqueous extract of pumpkin fruits (1.0 mg / kg of body weight) to either rat groups infected with A. flavus or intoxicated with AFB1 for 20 consecutive days effectively normalized the serum kidney function biomarkers and confirmed by histomorphologic pictures which showed normal histological structure.