In Vitro and In Vivo Inhibitory Activity of Limonene against Different Isolates of Candida spp.

Author(s)

Munoz, Julian E. ^[1] ; Rossi, Diego C. P. ^[2] ; Jabes, Daniela L. ^[3] ; Barbosa, David Aciole ^[3] ; Cunha, Fernanda E. M. ^[3] ; Nunes, Luiz R. ^[4] ; Arruda, Denise C. ^[3] ; Pelleschi Taborda, Carlos ^{[2, 5]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Rosario, Sch Med & Hlth Sci, Studies Translat Microbiol & Emerging Dis Res Grp, Bogota 111221, DC - Colombia

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Biomed Sci Inst, Dept Microbiol, BR-05508060 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] Univ Mogi das Cruzes UMC, Nucleo Integrad Biotecnol, BR-08780911 Mogi Das Cruzes, SP - Brazil

^[4] Univ Fed ABC UFABC, Ctr Ciencias Nat & Humanas, BR-09210580 Sao Bernardo Do Campo - Brazil

^[5] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Trop Med Sao Paulo LIM53, Lab Med Mycol, Med Sch, BR-05403000 Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: JOURNAL OF FUNGI; v. 6, n. 3 SEP 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Commensal yeast from the genus Candida is part of the healthy human microbiota. In some cases, Candida spp. dysbiosis can result in candidiasis, the symptoms of which may vary from mild localized rashes to severe disseminated infections. The most prevalent treatments against candidiasis involve fluconazole, itraconazole, miconazole, and caspofungin. Moreover, amphotericin B associated with prolonged azole administration is utilized to control severe cases. Currently, numerous guidelines recommend echinocandins to treat invasive candidiasis. However, resistance to these antifungal drugs has increased dramatically over recent years. Considering this situation, new therapeutic alternatives should be studied to control candidiasis, which has become a major medical concern. Limonene belongs to the group of terpene molecules, known for their pharmacological properties. In this study, we evaluated in vitro the limonene concentration capable of inhibiting the growth of yeast from the genus Candida susceptible or resistant to antifungal drugs and its capacity to induce fungal damage. In addition, intravaginal fungal infection assays using a murine model infected by Candida albicans were carried out and the fungal burden, histopathology, and scanning electron microscopy were evaluated. All of our results suggest that limonene may play a protective role against the infection process by yeast from the genus Candida. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 18/11972-7 - Analysis of Protein Expression Regulated by the Brn-2 Transcription Factor in Cells treated with Peptides-Derived from POU Domain of Brn-2 and Determination of the Internalization and Cell Localization of this Peptide
• Grantee: Denise Costa Arruda
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 16/08730-6 - Fungal pathogenicity: environmental effects, immune response and vaccine modulation in the Brazilian endemic mycoses paracoccidioidomycosis and histoplasmosis
• Grantee: Carlos Pelleschi Taborda
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants