Citronellal-induced disruption of membrane homeostasis in Candida albicans and attenuation of its virulence attributes
Abstract: INTRODUCTION There is an increasing burden of multidrug resistance. As a result, deciphering the mechanisms of action of natural compounds with antifungal activity has gained considerable prominence. We aimed to elucidate the probable mechanism of action of citronellal, a monoterpenoid f...
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Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT)
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Series: | Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical |
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Online Access: | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0037-86822016000400465&lng=en&tlng=en |
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author | Shweta Singh Zeeshan Fatima Saif Hameed |
author_facet | Shweta Singh Zeeshan Fatima Saif Hameed |
author_sort | Shweta Singh |
collection | DOAJ |
description | Abstract: INTRODUCTION There is an increasing burden of multidrug resistance. As a result, deciphering the mechanisms of action of natural compounds with antifungal activity has gained considerable prominence. We aimed to elucidate the probable mechanism of action of citronellal, a monoterpenoid found in the essential oil extracted from Cymbopogon plants, against Candida albicans. METHODS Drug susceptibility was measured by broth microdilution and spot assays. Ergosterol levels were estimated using the alcoholic potassium hydroxide method and H+ extrusion was assessed by monitoring the glucose-induced acidification of the external medium. Virulence traits were studied by hyphal morphogenesis and biofilm formation, along with fungal cell adherence to polystyrene surface and human oral epithelial cells. RESULTS Citronellal showed anticandidal activity against C. albicans and non-albicans species of Candida at a minimum inhibitory concentration of 1 mg/ml. Citronellal interfered with membrane homeostasis, which is the major target of known antifungal drugs, by increasing the hypersensitivity of the fungi to membrane-perturbing agents, reducing ergosterol levels, and diminishing glucose-induced H+ extrusion. In addition, oxidative and genotoxic stresses were induced via an increased production of reactive oxygen species. Furthermore, citronellal inhibited the virulent attributes of yeast-to-hypha transition and biofilm formation. It also reduced cell adherence to polystyrene surface and the human oral epithelial cells. CONCLUSIONS This is the first study to propose the cell membrane, morphogenetic switching, biofilm formation, and cell adherence of Candida albicans as potential targets for the anticandidal activity of citronellal. However, clinical investigations on the therapeutic applications of citronellal are required. |
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id | doaj.art-c9546f6eba274f088aabff8f621d5f26 |
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issn | 1678-9849 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-04-12T14:41:57Z |
publisher | Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT) |
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series | Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical |
spelling | doaj.art-c9546f6eba274f088aabff8f621d5f262022-12-22T03:28:48ZengSociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT)Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical1678-984949446547210.1590/0037-8682-0190-2016S0037-86822016000400465Citronellal-induced disruption of membrane homeostasis in Candida albicans and attenuation of its virulence attributesShweta SinghZeeshan FatimaSaif HameedAbstract: INTRODUCTION There is an increasing burden of multidrug resistance. As a result, deciphering the mechanisms of action of natural compounds with antifungal activity has gained considerable prominence. We aimed to elucidate the probable mechanism of action of citronellal, a monoterpenoid found in the essential oil extracted from Cymbopogon plants, against Candida albicans. METHODS Drug susceptibility was measured by broth microdilution and spot assays. Ergosterol levels were estimated using the alcoholic potassium hydroxide method and H+ extrusion was assessed by monitoring the glucose-induced acidification of the external medium. Virulence traits were studied by hyphal morphogenesis and biofilm formation, along with fungal cell adherence to polystyrene surface and human oral epithelial cells. RESULTS Citronellal showed anticandidal activity against C. albicans and non-albicans species of Candida at a minimum inhibitory concentration of 1 mg/ml. Citronellal interfered with membrane homeostasis, which is the major target of known antifungal drugs, by increasing the hypersensitivity of the fungi to membrane-perturbing agents, reducing ergosterol levels, and diminishing glucose-induced H+ extrusion. In addition, oxidative and genotoxic stresses were induced via an increased production of reactive oxygen species. Furthermore, citronellal inhibited the virulent attributes of yeast-to-hypha transition and biofilm formation. It also reduced cell adherence to polystyrene surface and the human oral epithelial cells. CONCLUSIONS This is the first study to propose the cell membrane, morphogenetic switching, biofilm formation, and cell adherence of Candida albicans as potential targets for the anticandidal activity of citronellal. However, clinical investigations on the therapeutic applications of citronellal are required.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0037-86822016000400465&lng=en&tlng=enCitronellalCandidaCell membraneBiofilmAdherence |
spellingShingle | Shweta Singh Zeeshan Fatima Saif Hameed Citronellal-induced disruption of membrane homeostasis in Candida albicans and attenuation of its virulence attributes Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical Citronellal Candida Cell membrane Biofilm Adherence |
title | Citronellal-induced disruption of membrane homeostasis in Candida albicans and attenuation of its virulence attributes |
title_full | Citronellal-induced disruption of membrane homeostasis in Candida albicans and attenuation of its virulence attributes |
title_fullStr | Citronellal-induced disruption of membrane homeostasis in Candida albicans and attenuation of its virulence attributes |
title_full_unstemmed | Citronellal-induced disruption of membrane homeostasis in Candida albicans and attenuation of its virulence attributes |
title_short | Citronellal-induced disruption of membrane homeostasis in Candida albicans and attenuation of its virulence attributes |
title_sort | citronellal induced disruption of membrane homeostasis in candida albicans and attenuation of its virulence attributes |
topic | Citronellal Candida Cell membrane Biofilm Adherence |
url | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0037-86822016000400465&lng=en&tlng=en |
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