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Evaluation of the potential effect of the Fir Siberian essential oil modulator of proteolytic activity of Candida albicans isolated from several biological materials
Abstract
Introduction: Many studies show antifungal activity of several essential oils of plant such as Fir Siberian essential oil. However there is no investigation how can Fir Siberian essential oil modulate the hydrolytic activity of fungal enzymes. The aim of study: Evaluation of the potential effect of the Fir Siberian essential oil as a modulator of proteolytic activity of Candida albicans isolated from several biological materials. Material and methods: 24 Candida albicans strains were isolated from patients of Medical University Hospital no 1 in memorial N. Barlicki in Lodz and from patients who were treatment in hospital's ambulatory. Candida were isolated from: pharyngeal mucosa (6 strains), tongue (1 strains), peritoneal fluid (3 strains), sputum (4 strains), ear secretion (1 strains), urine (4 strains), stools (2 strains), blood (1 strains) and after-surgery wound secretion (2 strains). The hydrolytic activity Candida albicans was estimated by using API ZYM test (bioMérieux). The strains were cultured without (control) and in the presence of the Fir Siberian essential oil. The hydrolytic activity of Candida was examined for minimal inhibitory concentration of essential oil, measured by the diffusion in agar gel method (Kadłubowski). Results: In strains which were cultured without the Fir Siberian essential oil (control) observed activity of 15 from 20 enzymes: no. 2 - alkaline phosphatase, no. 3 - esterase (C4), no. 4 - esterase lipase (C8), no. 6 - leucine arylamidase, no. 7 - valine arylamidase, no. 8 - cystine arylamidase, no. 9 - trypsin, no. 10 - α-chymotrypsin, no. 11 - acid phosphatase, no. 12 - naphtol-AS-BL- phosphohydrolase, no. 15 - β-glucuronidase, no. 16 - α-glucosidase, no. 17 - β-glucosidase, no. 18 - N-acetyl-β-glucosylamidase, no. 19 - α-mannosidase. Candida albicans strains showed no hydrolytic activity for enzymes: no. 5 - lipase (C4), no. 13 - α-galactosidase, no. 14 - β-galactosidase, no. 20 - α-fucosidase. The activity of leucine arylamidase (x= 4.04) and esterase (C4) (x = 3.25) was the highest. The activity of enzymes: trypsin and β-glukosidase was the lowest (x=0.08). Incubation with the Fir Siberian essential oil caused that examined strains released only 7 hydrolases: no. 3 - esterase (C4), no. 4 - esterase lipase (C8), no. 6 - leucine arylamidase, no. 11 - acid phosphatase, no. 12 - naphtol-AS-BL- phosphohydrolase, no. 16 - α-glucosidase, no. 18 - N-acetyl-β- glucosylamidase. No hydrolytic activity showed for 12 hydrolases: no 2, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15, 17, 19, 20. After the incubation with oil the activity of leucine arylamidase and esterase (C4) was the highest but compared to control was lower (x=1.80) and (x=1.70). The Fir Siberian essential oil inhibited releasing 8 hydrolases from examined strains: no 2, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 17, 19. Conclusion: The oleum pichtae reduced the hydrolytic activity Candida albicans and can caused their lower virulence. The inhibition effect of the Fir Siberian essential oil of hydrolytic activity Candida can be recommended as the agent for the treatment of candidosis.
Introduction: Manufacturers and researchers make known Oleum pichtae therapeutic efficacy, including antifungal activity. Oleum Pichtae is recommended to treat tinea pedis, tinea capitis and tinea barbae. The most common dermatophytes responsible for dermatomycosis are: Trichophyton spp., Epidermophyton spp. and Microsporum spp. Aim of study: Evaluation of the antifungal activity of Oleum Pichtae against selected species of dermatophytes. Material and methods: A total of 14 strains of dermatophytes isolated from clinical materials and the reference strain of Trichophyton mentagrophytes ATCC 18784 were tested. Clinical strains were recovered from skin and nails of Dermatology Clinic patients and patients hospitalized at Rydygier's Hospital in Krakow. The antifungal activity of Oleum Pichtae was evaluated by disc diffusion method. The antifungal activity was determined by the measurement of the diameter of the zone of inhibition around the disc impregnated with 15 ul of different concentrations of Oleum Pichtae. Results: The values of the zones of inhibition for 100% Oleum Pichtae ranged from 27-60 mm for all dermatophytes tested. Further dilutions of Oleum Pichtae still showed antifungal activity. Conclusions: Oleum Pichtae can be useful in combination therapy of tinea pedis, tinea capitis and tinea barbae.
Candida albicans is an opportunistic pathogen that frequently causes infections ranging from superficial mucosal lesions to disseminated or bloodstream infections. Candida infections are a problem of a growing clinical importance worldwide; therefore virulence factors of this pathogen have been extensively studied. This review focuses on the role and function of leucine arylamidase (Ape2) in C. albicans' virulence and pathogenesis in human infections. The L-leucine arylamidase is a member of metallo-peptidase group that removes the N-terminal L-leucine from peptide substrates. The hydrolytic enzymes play an important role in both colonization and invasion; moreover, it has been estimated that Ape2 facilitates penetration of C. albicans into the host tissue. Therefore, the comparison of Ape2 activity between Candida species might reveal their still unknown function during infection in vivo. As C. albicans can potentially cause superficial and systemic candidiasis with high mortality in immunocompromised patients, the involvement of this enzyme's activity in virulence (human tissues destruction) ought to be thoroughly evaluated in the future.
Volatile oils, ethanolic and aqueous extracts were obtained from the aerial part of Achillea bibersteinii, Achillea wilhelmsii, Achillea nobilis and Achillea setacea. Their antibacterial and antifungal activities were investigated against some gram positive, gram negative bacteria and the fungi. The volatile oils were the most effective in inhibiting bacterial growth.
Introduction: Global warmingand increase of air humidity promote the dynamic development of saprobionticfungi, especially the moulds. Due to the idea of "balanced development" the trial of searching for a natural fungicide which can be used by farmers and plantsmen in protection of crops was conducted. Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the antifungal in vitro activity of the fungicide BRAVO 500 SC and Fir Siberian essential oil on the strains of moulds isolated from the soil and to indicate which of this two agents is more appropriate to be used in eradication. Material and methods: Strains of moulds isolated from the soil of recreational grounds of Łódź precinct, fungicide BRAVO 500 SC and Fir Siberian essential oil were used as a material for the research. The susceptibility of fungal strains to this agents was measured by the diffusion in agar gel method. Results: The concentrations of BRAVO 500 SC solutions were 56 000 - times higher in comparison with the concentrations of Fir Siberian essential oil solutions. The average value of minimal inhibitory concentration MIC for the fungicide BRAVO 500 SC fits in from 7.1 mg/l (strain no. 11 Penicillium purpurogenum) to 7627.0 mg/l (strain no. 13, Penicillium spinulosum) and for the Fir Siberian essential oil from 0.001 mg/l (strain no. 13, Penicillium spinulosum) to 0.045 mg/l (strain no. 14, Scedosporium prolificans). MIC values for the fungicide BRAVO 500 SC were characterized by high variability to 1074 times, whereas in the case of Fir Siberian essential oil there was lower variability to 45 times. Conclusion: A fungicide BRAVO 500 SC has small fungistic activity on moulds isolated from soil and can be used to eradication to a very small extent, whereas the Fir Siberian essential oil has definitely more powerful antifungal activity for all 14 moulds strains and can be recommended as the agent for their eradication.
Investigation on the antifungal activity of naturally occurring citral containing essential oil of Litsea cubeba Pers. at various dilutions revealed the possibility of its utilization as an antifungal agent. The oil isolated from the fruits of L. cubeba was tested in vitro for its activity at different concentrations against Fusarium moniliforme, Fusarium solani, Alternaria alternata and Aspergillus niger. The oil was found to be effective against these fungal pathogens under laboratory screening. The antifungal activities of the oil increased with an increase in the concentration. Minimum effective concentrations of the oil against fungal pathogen was also different.
In our continuing search for antimicrobial agents from edible and medicinal plants, beverages, and food spices, we have reported the limited antimicrobial activity of various compounds. Combining two or more of these chemicals to increase the activity spectrum seems to be a promising approach to practical use, although a rational basis for this is still in an early stage. The combination of polygodial (1) and anethole (2) exhibited fungicidal activity against Candida albicans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In contrast, the combination of polygodial and indole (3) had fungistatic activity against C. albicans.