Atividade antifúngica de di-hidrojasmona frente cepas de candida spp. fluconazol resistentes

Abstract

Candidiasis are fungal infections whose etiological agent is yeast belonging to the Candida genus and account for approximately 80% of cases of systemic fungal infections. Its clinical manifestations can range from cutaneous-mucosal infections to the systemic form. The treatment for the different manifestations is fraught with difficulties, due to the adverse effects, high cost of antifungal agents and, also, the emergence of resistant species. Therefore, the search for new alternatives with greater efficacy and safety has grown, with emphasis on the use of natural products and their derivatives, such as terpenes. Therefore, the study evaluated the antifungal activity of dihydrojasmone against Candida spp. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MFC) were determined by the broth microdilution method and later the mechanism of action of the substance was analyzed through the assay with sorbitol and with exogenous ergosterol. The MIC of dihydrojasmone was 128 - 256 μg/mL, depending on the strain tested, and the MFC values resulted in a MFC/MIC ratio less than 4 for all strains tested. It was observed that the mechanism of action does not occur due to damage to the cell wall, which is possibly via binding to the ergosterol present in the membrane. Thus, it is observed that terpene has potential activity against Candida strains resistant to fluconazole, it is suggested that this may represent a new therapeutic option in the control of C.albicans, requiring further studies to be carried out, such as on toxicity.