title: In vitro effects of glycyrrhetinic acid on the growth of clinical isolates of Candida albicans.
abstract: Compounds derived from Glycyrrhiza glabra L. root have been used widely for centuries for their numerous therapeutic properties. The present study aimed to test the in vitro activity against Candida albicans strains of the compound 18-beta glycyrrhetinic acid (18-beta GA), derived from the root of Glycyrrhiza species. This antimicrobial activity was assessed using the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS) method on C. albicans strains that were isolated from patients with recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC). The in vitro growth of the C. albicans strains was markedly reduced, in a pH-dependent manner, by relatively low doses (6.2 microg/mL) of 18-beta GA. The results demonstrate that 18-beta GA is a promising biological alternative for the topical treatment of recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC).
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology, Microbiology and Medical Biotechnologies, Via Gabelli, 63, 35121-Padua, University of Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Donatella
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pellati
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fiore
authors.forename: Decio
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Armanini
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rassu
authors.forename: Giulio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bertoloni
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects*; D002181:Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006034:Glycyrrhetinic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006035:Glycyrrhiza / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; C119129:18alpha-glycyrrhetinic acid; D006034:Glycyrrhetinic Acid