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DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1282747
Findings on antifungal-activity and phytochemistry of Brazilian Amazon plant extracts against Candida albicans
Candida albicans represents one of the most common opportunistic microorganisms influencing the quality of life of patients committed by severe diseases as diabetes, hypothyroidism, hyperparathyroidism, hypoadrenocortical activity, malnutrition, trauma, Sjögren Syndrome, long-term systemic infection, infancy, advanced age or immunosuppressed patients, among others. The introduction of new chemotherapeutics to fight opportunistic mycosis provoked by C. albicans is necessary to expand possibilities of diminishing suffering and improve quality of life for those patients. Nature is a known source of pharmacological-active compounds. For that reason, more than 2,000 plant extracts were tested against C. albicans using the disk diffusion method (DDM), in Sabouraud dextrose agar medium. Extracts showing any degree of inhibition were considered active in the initial screening. The active extracts were retested in triplicate in order to confirm antifungal activity in DDM, and for the six extracts that confirmed activity, diameter of inhibition-growth zones were measured both horizontally and vertically, and standard drugs amphotericin B, nystatin and chlorhexidine digluconate were used. Means and standard deviations were obtained and compared. CE 849, obtained from Diospyros guianensis Gürke, and CE 689, obtained from Abarema auriculata (Benth.) Barneby & J.W.Grimes, were the most active extracts and both has shown a significant activity when compared to the standard drugs. The Brazilian Amazon rain forest can be considered an extremely important source of new chemical lead compounds to be introduced as pharmacological weapons to improve the quality of life of patients suffering from extreme health conditions.
Acknowledgement: FAPESP-grant#2008/58706–8, UNIP
References: 1. Suffredini IB et al. (2006) Anti-Cancer Agents in Med Che. 6: 367–75