In Vitro and In Vivo Anti-Candida spp. Activity of Plant-Derived Products

Abstract

Candidiasis therapy, especially for candidiasis caused by <i>Candida</i> non-<i>albicans</i> species, is limited by the relatively reduced number of antifungal drugs and the emergence of antifungal tolerance. This study evaluates the anticandidal activity of 41 plant-derived products against <i>Candida</i> species, in both planktonic and biofilm cells. This study also evaluates the toxicity and the therapeutic action of the most active compounds by using the <i>Caenorhabditis elegans-Candida</i> model. The planktonic cells were cultured with various concentrations of the tested agents. The <i>Cupressus sempervirens</i>, <i>Citrus limon</i>, and <i>Litsea cubeba</i> essential oils as well as gallic acid were the most active anticandidal compounds. <i>Candida</i> cell re-growth after treatment with these agents for 48 h demonstrated that the <i>L. cubeba</i> essential oil and gallic acid displayed fungistatic activity, whereas the <i>C. limon</i> and <i>C. sempervirens</i> essential oils exhibited fungicidal activity. The <i>C. sempervirens</i> essential oil was not toxic and increased the survival of <i>C. elegans</i> worms infected with <i>C. glabrata</i> or <i>C. orthopsilosis</i>. All the plant-derived products assayed at 250 µg/mL affected <i>C. krusei</i> biofilms. The tested plant-derived products proved to be potential therapeutic agents against <i>Candida</i>, especially <i>Candida</i> non-<i>albicans</i> species, and should be considered when developing new anticandidal agents.