Chemical and biological evaluation of Eleutherine plicata against Candida albicans

• Grant number: 24/07158-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2024
• End date: June 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Organic Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Adriana Aparecida Lopes
• Grantee: Maria Eduarda Garcia Silva
• Host Institution: Universidade de Ribeirão Preto (UNAERP). Campus Ribeirão Preto. Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Eleutherine plicata is a Brazilian species widely used in regions of tropical America, with great use in the Brazilian Amazon region. Phytochemical studies carried out with E. plicata suggested that isoeleuterin and eleuterin are the major naphthoquinones produced by the species, and can serve as chemical markers. Recent studies showed that the extract and fractions of this species were promising against Candida albicans. The biological test was carried out via autobiography by TLC, an analytical technique that integrates chromatographic separation with the detection of biological activity. It is known that after the COVID-19 pandemic there was a global increase in pathogenic fungal infections, including aspergillosis, candidiasis and mucormycosis. In 2022, the World Health Organization released a list of 19 priority fungal pathogens identified as those posing the greatest threat to public health, with Candida albicans being one of the high priority pathogenic fungi. Therefore, the objective of this work is to isolate, identify and perform CIM assays for a promising new drug against Candida albicans.