Enhancement of the fungicidal activity of amphotericin B by allicin, an allyl-sulfur compound from garlic, against the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model system.
Amphotericin B (AmB) is a representative antibiotic for the control of serious fungal infections, and its fungicidal activity was greatly enhanced by allicin, an allyl-sulfur compound from garlic. In addition to the plasma membrane permeability change, AmB induced vacuole membrane damage so that the organelles were visible as small discrete particles. Although allicin was ineffective in promoting AmB-induced plasma membrane disability, this compound enhanced AmB-induced structural damage to the vacuolar membrane even at a non-lethal dose of the antibiotic. Allicin could also enhance the antifungal activity of AmB against the pathogenic fungus Candida albicans and against Aspergillus fumigatus. In contrast, allicin did not enhance the cytotoxic activity of AmB against cells of human promyelocytic leukemia (HL-60), a vacuole-less organism.
Ogita
Akira
A
Institute for Health and Sport Sciences, Osaka City University, 3-3-138 Sugimo-to, Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka 558-8585, Japan.
Fujita
Ken-ichi
K
Taniguchi
Makoto
M
Tanaka
Toshio
T
D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001232:Aspergillus fumigatus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability / Q000187:drug effects; D004220:Disulfides; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005737:Garlic / Q000737:chemistry; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013441:Sulfinic Acids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014617:Vacuoles / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D004220:Disulfides; D013441:Sulfinic Acids; C006452:allicin; D000666:Amphotericin B