Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Hi! I'm new here and I need some help... I have a research project and I decided that I go and test the effect of varying concentrations of capsaicin to the growth rate of a certain fungus. I have a candidate for my experimental setup which is candida but still, it's not yet final. I'm at the phase of getting the research design ready but I am worried for my experiment because I don't know how to extract capsaicin and to culture fungi... Any tips to survive my research?

Hi and welcome to Scibuddies! We'll try to give you some good advice on your project. it sounds like you have a pretty clear hypothesis--capsaicin inhibits Candida growth. Now you just need to work out the details. Firstly, where do you get the capsaicin to test? You can buy it from Sigma-Aldrich Chemical Supply Company--http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/catalog/sea ... &region=US
for $40-50.

You said you were interested in making your own extract, however, and to me that is what makes a project special and gives it your personal touch. It mixes chemistry and biology and that makes it more interesting. you can buy ground red pepper, or you could get a couple of habaneras or Scotch bonnets that have a high Scovill score--hotness--and extract capsaicin directly from the source. Capsaicin is more soluble in oil than water, so keep that in mind when you work out an extraction procedure. We can help with details, but you'll have to do the online research to come up with a recipe for extraction that can be done with the resources you have.

As to growing the Candida, I've never done it, but I know there are plenty of websites that explain how to grow fungus. I think you could grow it on agar the same as bacteria then use filter paper disks to hold your capsaicin and measure zones of inhibition of fungal growth.

Here are some websites to check:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabouraud_agar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfd6SDrYYN8
http://cshprotocols.cshlp.org/content/2 ... _only=true
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q= ... Ww&cad=rja

I hope this is helpful. Post again to this same thread when you have more questions and we'll try to guide you along in your project.

Good luck!

Sybee