Anti-Candida Targets and Cytotoxicity of Casuarinin Isolated from Plinia cauliflora Leaves in a Bioactivity-Guided Study

Molecules

Tatiana M. Souza-Moreira³  Juliana A. Severi³  Keunsook Lee²  Kanya Preechasuth²  Emerson Santos³  Neil A. R. Gow²  Carol A. Munro²  Wagner Vilegas¹ 

[1] Department of Organic Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, UNESP-Univ Estadual Paulista, R. Francisco Degni s/n, Araraquara, 14800-900, São Paulo, Brazil; E-Mail:;Department of Microbiology, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, Scotland, UK; E-Mails:;Department of Drugs and Medicines, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UNESP-Univ Estadual Paulista, Rodovia Araraquara-Jau, km 1, Araraquara, 14801-902, São Paulo, Brazil; E-Mails:

关键词: Plinia cauliflora (Myrtaceae);    ellagitannin;    Candida;    antifungal activity;    cell wall;   

DOI  :  10.3390/molecules18078095

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

In addition to the bio-guided investigation of the antifungal activity of Plinia cauliflora leaves against different Candida species, the major aim of the present study was the search for targets on the fungal cell. The most active antifungal fraction was purified by chromatography and characterized by NMR and mass spectrometry. The antifungal activity was evaluated against five Candida strains according to referenced guidelines. Cytotoxicity against fibroblast cells was determined. The likely targets of Candida albicans cells were assessed through interactions with ergosterol and cell wall composition, porosity and architecture. The chemical major component within the most active antifungal fraction of P. cauliflora leaves identified was the hydrolysable tannin casuarinin. The cytotoxic concentration was higher than the antifungal one. The first indication of plant target on cellular integrity was suggested by the antifungal activity ameliorated when using an osmotic support. The most important target for the tannin fraction studied was suggested by ultrastructural analysis of yeast cell walls revealing a denser mannan outer layer and wall porosity reduced. It is possible to imply that P. cauliflora targeted the C. albicans cell wall inducing some changes in the architecture, notably the outer glycoprotein layer, affecting the cell wall porosity without alteration of the polysaccharide or protein level.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2013 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.