Searching new antifungals: The use of in vitro and in vivo methods for evaluation of natural compounds

Author(s)

Scorzoni, Liliana ^[1] ; Sangalli-Leite, Fernanda ^[1] ; Singulani, Junya de Lacorte ^[1] ; Alves de Paula e Silva, Ana Carolina ^[1] ; Costa-Orlandi, Caroline Barcelos ^[1] ; Fusco-Almeida, Ana Marisa ^[1] ; Mendes-Giannini, Maria Jose Soares ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] UNESP Univ Estadual Paulista, Fac Ciencias Farmaceut, Dept Anal Clin, Lab Micol Clin, Nucleo Proteom, Campus Araraquara, Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Review article
• Source: Journal of Microbiological Methods; v. 123, p. 68-78, APR 2016.
• Web of Science Citations: 16

Abstract

In the last decades, the increased number of immunocompromised patients has led to the emergence of many forms of fungal infections. Furthermore, there are a restricted arsenal of antifungals available and an increase in the development of resistance to antifungal drugs. Because of these disadvantages, the search for new antifungal agents in natural sources has increased. The development of these new antifungal drugs involves various steps and methodologies. The evaluation of the in vitro antifungal activity and cytotoxicity are the first steps in the screening. There is also the possibility of antifungal combinations to improve the therapy and reduce toxicity. Despite that, the application of the new antifungal candidate could be used in association with photodynamic therapy or using nanotechnology as an ally. In vivo tests can be performed to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity using conventional and alternative animal models. In this work, we review the methods available for the evaluation of the antifungal activity and safety of natural products, as well as the recent advances of new technology in the application of natural products for antifungal therapy. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 15/03700-9 - Alternative animal as a model to study Paracoccidioides- host interaction: virulence, efficacy and toxicology of antifungal compounds and new preventive treatments
• Grantee: Maria José Soares Mendes Giannini
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 13/10917-9 - Alternative animal models: Virulence of different phylogenetic species of Paracoccidioides and effect of the 30kDa 43kDa protein and their antibodies
• Grantee: Liliana Scorzoni
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral