Propolis: a potential natural product to fight Candida species infections

• Published in: Future microbiology 2016-08, Vol.11 (8), p.1035-1046
• Main Authors: Tobaldini-Valerio, Flávia, Bonfim-Mendonça, P. S., Rosseto, H. C., Bruschi, M. L., Henriques, Mariana, Negri, Melyssa, Silva, Sónia Carina, Svidzinski, Terezinha
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antifungal Agents - pharmacology; Antimicrobial agents; Biofilm; Biofilms; Biofilms - drug effects; Biological Products - pharmacology; Candida; Candida - drug effects; Candida - genetics; Candida - physiology; Candida albicans; Candida species; Candidiasis; Candidiasis - microbiology; Drug Resistance, Fungal; Filamentation; Fungal Proteins - genetics; Fungal Proteins - metabolism; Infections; Medical research; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Natural products; Phenols; Planktonic cells; Propolis; Propolis - pharmacology; Propolis extract; Scanning electron microscopy; Science & Technology; Species; Standard deviation; Urine; Virulence factors; Virulence Factors - genetics; Virulence Factors - metabolism
• ISSN: 1746-0913; 1746-0921
• DOI: 10.2217/fmb-2015-0016

Aim: To evaluate the effect of propolis against Candida species planktonic cells and its counterpart's biofilms. Materials & methods: The MIC values, time-kill curves and filamentation form inhibition were determined in Candida planktonic cells. The effect of propolis on Candida biofilms was assessed through quantification of CFUs. Results: MIC values, ranging from 220 to 880 µg/ml, demonstrated higher efficiency on C. albicans and C. parapsilosis than on C. tropicalis cells. In addition, propolis was able to prevent Candida species biofilm's formation and eradicate their mature biofilms, coupled with a significant reduction on C. tropicalis and C. albicans filamentation. Conclusion: Propolis is an inhibitor of Candida virulence factors and represents an innovative alternative to fight candidiasis. The authors thank Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (Cnpq) and Fundação Araucária for the financial support received. Flávia Tobaldini-Valerio acknowledges the financial support of CAPES – Proc. 9469/14-1. The authors also thank FCT for the Strategic Project of the UID/BIO/04469/2013 unit, FCT and European Union funds (FEDER/COMPETE) for the project RECI/BBBEBI/0179/2012 (FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-027462). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.