Anti-Candida albicans activity, cytotoxicity and interaction with antifungal drugs of essential oils and extracts from aromatic and medicinal plants

Article information

Abstract

Objective

To determine anti-Candida albicans activity, cytotoxicity and drug interaction of essential oils and extracts from plants collected in Colombia.

Materials and methods

The antifungal activity was evaluated following the AFST-EUCAST protocol. With most active samples, the inhibition of the formation of germ tubes and budding, the in vitro pharmacodynamics, using time-kill assays, and the interaction with itraconazole and amphotericin B following the chequerboard technique were evaluated. The cytotoxicity assay for all samples was done using MTT.

Results

Strong activity in 17.57% of the samples was found. The lowest MIC values were obtained with Piper bredemeyeri Jacq and Lippia origanoides Kunth (B) oils and Morinda royoc L extract. The three samples inhibited the formation of germ tubes and budding. P. bredemeyeri Jacq oil and M. royoc L extract samples showed fungicidal activity at 2xMIC. A synergistic effect was obtained with the combination of P. bredemeyeri Jacq oil and itraconazole, but not for the combination with amphotericin B. Active samples against C. albicans were not cytotoxic on Vero cells ATCC CCL-81, excluding P. bredemeyeri Jacq oil.

Conclusions

The results of this study suggest that Colombian medicinal and aromatic plants represent an untapped source of compounds with anti-C. albicans activity that could be a resource in the development of new therapeutic natural products.

Key words:

Essential oils

extracts

Candida albicans

antifungal activity

cytotoxicity

synergism

Resumen

Objetivo

Determinar la actividad anti-Candida albicans, la citotoxicidad y la interacción con antifúngicos de aceites y extractos de plantas recolectadas en Colombia.

Materiales y métodos

La actividad antifúngica fue evaluada siguiendo el protocolo Antifungal Susceptibility Testing Subcommittee of the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (AFST-EUCAST). Con las muestras más activas se evaluó la inhibición de la formación de tubo germinal y la gemación, la farmacodinamia mediante curvas de tiempo muerte y la interacción con itraconazol y anfotericina B. Se determinó la citotoxicidad mediante la técnica MTT.

Resultados

Se encontró actividad en 17,57% de las muestras. La mayor actividad se obtuvo con los aceites de Piper bredemeyeri Jacq y Lippia origanoides Kunth (B) y el extracto de Morinda royoc L. Las tres muestras inhibieron la formación de tubo germinal y la gemación. El aceite de P. bredemeyeri Jacq y el extracto de M. royoc L mostraron actividad fungicida con dos veces la concentración inhibitoria mínima. Se encontró un efecto sinérgico por la combinación del aceite de P. bredemeyeri Jacq e itraconazol, pero no con anfotericina B. Las muestras activas no fueron citotóxicas, excepto el aceite de P. bredemeyeri Jacq.

Conclusión

Los resultados de este estudio sugieren que las plantas de Colombia son una fuente no explorada de compuestos con actividad anti-C. albicans, útiles para el desarrollo de nuevos productos terapéuticos.

Palabras clave:

aceites esenciales

extractos

Candida albicans

actividad antifúngica

citotoxicidad

sinergismo

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