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Study of the antifungal potential of carvacrol on growth inhibition of Candida krusei in a systemic candidiasis

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Abstract

Candidiasis caused by non-albicans Candida species present a serious global health threat. Although the available antifungal drugs are recommended, resistance phenomenon of these agents is beginning to emerge, demonstrating the urgently need for new and effective antifungal agents. Here, we have aimed to describe the antifungal activity of carvacrol against Candida krusei both in vitro and in a systemic candidiasis mouse model. In vitro susceptibility of C. krusei isolates to carvacrol were assessed using the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute broth microdilution reference method. In vivo, carvacrol was evaluated in murine models of systemic candidiasis by determination of fungal loads of kidneys, survival time and histopathologic analyses. Carvacrol exhibit minimum inhibitory concentration in the 6.00 ± 2.80 µg/mL to 8.00 ± 0.00 µg/mL range. In vivo, carvacrol decreased fungal load of kidneys (p < 0.05) and prevented the death of mice in a systemic candidiasis model (mean survival time, 20.50 ± 3.63). Carvacrol was also slightly less efficacious than fluconazole at reducing the fungal loads and survival time. Taken together, our results indicate that carvacrol has the potential to represent as an antifungal agent for clinical use. The data encouraged further development of this antifungal agent for non-albicans Candida species.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge Dr. Sadegh Nouripour-Sisakht from the Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran for kindly providing the clinical isolates of C. krusei. The authors wish to thank the Islamic Azad University of Yasooj for providing all the required research facilities. The results presented in this study is part of the Master thesis of Moslem Feridoniy (IR.IAU.YASOOJ.REC.1396.12).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology, Yasooj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Yasooj, Iran

    Moslem Feridoniy & Fahimeh Alizadeh

  2. Medicinal Plants Research Center, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran

    Esmaeel Panahi Kokhdan

  3. Department of Biology, Gachsaran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Gachsaran, Iran

    Alireza Khodavandi

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  1. Moslem Feridoniy
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  2. Fahimeh Alizadeh
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  3. Esmaeel Panahi Kokhdan
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  4. Alireza Khodavandi
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Correspondence to Fahimeh Alizadeh or Esmaeel Panahi Kokhdan.

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Ethical statement

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants, which are obtained from Microbiology Laboratory, Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 2000 Helsinki declaration. The animal studies were approved by Islamic Azad University Animal Ethics Committee, which adheres to international procedures for animal care (IR.IAU.YASOOJ.REC.1396.12).

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Moslem Feridoniy has no conflict of interest. Fahimeh Alizadeh has no conflict of interest. Esmaeel Panahi Kokhdan has no conflict of interest. Alireza Khodavandi has no conflict of interest.

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Feridoniy, M., Alizadeh, F., Panahi Kokhdan, E. et al. Study of the antifungal potential of carvacrol on growth inhibition of Candida krusei in a systemic candidiasis. ADV TRADIT MED (ADTM) 20, 591–598 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13596-020-00482-2

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