Candicidal action of resveratrol isolated from grapes on human pathogenic yeast C. albicans.
Resveratrol (3,5,4'-trihydroxystilbene) is a naturally occurring, multi-biofunctional chemical existing in grapes and various other plants as a polyphenol type, and it is one of the best known natural anticancer and antiatherosclerosis reagents. In this study, we investigated the antifungal action by resveratrol in Candida albicans, which is a human infectious fungi as an agent of candidiasis. Resveratrol displayed potent fungicidal activity in an energy-dependent manner, without any hemolytic effects against human erythrocytes. It was found that the serum-induced mycelial forms, which play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of C. albicans during host tissue invasion, were disrupted by resveratrol. To understand the correlation between lethal effects and resveratrol action, we examined the physiological changes of C. albicans. A significant accumulation of intracellular trehalose was induced by stress responses to resveratrol action, and a remarkable arrest of cell-cycle processes at the S-phase in C. albicans occured. Therefore, the fungicidal effects of resveratrol demonstrate that this compound is a potential candidate as an antifungal agent in treating infectious diseases by candidal infections.
Department of Microbiology, College of Natural Sciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 702-701, Korea.
Hyun Jun
HJ
Jung
Young Bae
YB
Seu
Dong Gun
DG
Lee
D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D003600:Cytosol / Q000737:chemistry; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D050296:Microbial Viability; D025282:Mycelium / Q000187:drug effects; D000077185:Resveratrol; D013267:Stilbenes / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D014199:Trehalose / Q000032:analysis; D027843:Vitis / Q000737:chemistry*
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D013267:Stilbenes; D014199:Trehalose; D000077185:Resveratrol