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In Vitro Investigation of Antifungal Activity of Allicin Alone and in Combination with Azoles Against Candida Species

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Abstract

Candidiasis is a term describing infections by yeasts from the genus Candida, and the type of infection encompassed by candidiasis ranges from superficial to systemic. Treatment of such infections often requires antifungals such as the azoles, but increased use of these drugs has led to selection of yeasts with increased resistance to these drugs. In this study, we used allicin, an allyl sulfur derivative of garlic, to demonstrate both its intrinsic antifungal activity and its synergy with the azoles, in the treatment of these yeasts in vitro. In this study, the MIC50 and MIC90 of allicin alone against six Candida spp. ranged from 0.05 to 25 μg/ml. However, when allicin was used in combination with fluconazole or ketoconazole, the MICs were decreased in some isolates. Our results demonstrated the existing synergistic effect between allicin and azoles in some of the Candida spp. such as C. albicans, C. glabrata and C. tropicalis, but synergy was not demonstrated in the majority of Candida spp. tested. Nonetheless, In vivo testing needs to be performed to support these findings.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Sarkhosh Sedighi Chaharborj, Ph.D candidate of department of mathematics, faculty of science, University of Putra Malaysia, for helpful statistical analysis cooperation. Funding was partially provided by Science Fund (02-01-04-SF0761) from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

    Alireza Khodavandi & Pei Pei Chong

  2. Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

    Fahimeh Alizadeh

  3. Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

    Farzad Aala

  4. Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

    Zamberi Sekawi

  5. Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

    Pei Pei Chong

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  1. Alireza Khodavandi
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  2. Fahimeh Alizadeh
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Correspondence to Pei Pei Chong.

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Khodavandi, A., Alizadeh, F., Aala, F. et al. In Vitro Investigation of Antifungal Activity of Allicin Alone and in Combination with Azoles Against Candida Species. Mycopathologia 169, 287–295 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11046-009-9251-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11046-009-9251-3

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