Infections caused by Candida spp. represent the main cause of opportunistic fungal infections worldwide, leading to significant morbidity and mortality, and Candida albicans remains the most common etiological agent of candidiasis. The increasing recognition and importance of fungal infections, the difficulties encountered in their treatment, and the increase in resistance to antifungal agents have stimulated the search for new therapeutic alternatives, such as natural antifungal compounds, including essential oils that are now recognized for their potential antimicrobial role against microorganisms. Since clinical experience showed that the efficacy of antimicrobial agents depends not only on their direct effect on a given microorganism but also on the functional activity of the host immune system, the aim of our research was to evaluate the influence of thyme red essential oil (EO), at subMIC/MIC concentrations, on intracellular killing activity by human PMNs against C.albicans. The EO intracellular fungal activity was compared with that of fluconazole (FLZ) and caspofungin (CAS), two of the most antifungal drugs used in candidiasis prophylaxis and treatment. In addition, in order to provide a frame of reference for the activity of EO, its activity was also evaluated and compared with CAS on the extracellular killing of C.albicans. The results showed that EO at subMIC/MIC concentrations significantly enhanced C.albicans killing by PMNs in comparison with EO-free controls, and its activity was comparable to FLZ. On the contrary, CAS in the same experimental conditions was more effective in killing viable yeast cells with higher percentage, producing a significantly decrease of the intraPMN yeast survival compared to EO and FLZ. In the absence of PMNs, EO and CAS activity was only fungistatic at all concentrations tested and not sustained over time because yeast cell growth was seen at 24h. The mechanism of killing enhancement by EO is still unknown. However, the obtained results showed that EO, while having fungistatic activity, when it is incubated with PMNs, positively interacts with phagocytes, similarly to that observed with FLZ and CAS. The results of this study suggest that EO is promising for the development of non-conventional products with antifungal activity. Further investigations are needed to confirm these findings.

COMPARATIVE STUDY OF FLUCONAZOLE, CASPOFUNGIN AND THYME RED ESSENTIAL OIL INTERACTING WITH PMNS IN THE ERADICATION OF CANDIDA ALBICANS

MANDRAS, Narcisa;TULLIO, Viviana Cristina;ROANA, Janira;SCALAS, Daniela;ALLIZOND, VALERIA;BANCHE, Giuliana;MARRA, ELISA SIMONA;CUFFINI, Annamaria
2013-01-01

Abstract

Infections caused by Candida spp. represent the main cause of opportunistic fungal infections worldwide, leading to significant morbidity and mortality, and Candida albicans remains the most common etiological agent of candidiasis. The increasing recognition and importance of fungal infections, the difficulties encountered in their treatment, and the increase in resistance to antifungal agents have stimulated the search for new therapeutic alternatives, such as natural antifungal compounds, including essential oils that are now recognized for their potential antimicrobial role against microorganisms. Since clinical experience showed that the efficacy of antimicrobial agents depends not only on their direct effect on a given microorganism but also on the functional activity of the host immune system, the aim of our research was to evaluate the influence of thyme red essential oil (EO), at subMIC/MIC concentrations, on intracellular killing activity by human PMNs against C.albicans. The EO intracellular fungal activity was compared with that of fluconazole (FLZ) and caspofungin (CAS), two of the most antifungal drugs used in candidiasis prophylaxis and treatment. In addition, in order to provide a frame of reference for the activity of EO, its activity was also evaluated and compared with CAS on the extracellular killing of C.albicans. The results showed that EO at subMIC/MIC concentrations significantly enhanced C.albicans killing by PMNs in comparison with EO-free controls, and its activity was comparable to FLZ. On the contrary, CAS in the same experimental conditions was more effective in killing viable yeast cells with higher percentage, producing a significantly decrease of the intraPMN yeast survival compared to EO and FLZ. In the absence of PMNs, EO and CAS activity was only fungistatic at all concentrations tested and not sustained over time because yeast cell growth was seen at 24h. The mechanism of killing enhancement by EO is still unknown. However, the obtained results showed that EO, while having fungistatic activity, when it is incubated with PMNs, positively interacts with phagocytes, similarly to that observed with FLZ and CAS. The results of this study suggest that EO is promising for the development of non-conventional products with antifungal activity. Further investigations are needed to confirm these findings.
2013
RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS MICRORGANISMO-OSPITE, 41° Congresso Nazionale della Società Italiana di Microbiologia (SIM)
Riccione (RN), Italy
13-16 ottobre 2013
15
1
44
44
http://htpp://www.societasim.org
Candida spp., antifungal agents, natural antifungal compounds, essential oils, antimicrobial activity
N Mandras; V Tullio; J Roana; D Scalas; V Allizond; G Banche; E Marra; A Cuffini
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2318/140104
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