The effect of Dodonaea viscosa var. angustifolia on Candida albicans proteinase and phospholipase production and adherence to oral epithelial cells.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigated effect of a crude extract of Dodonaea viscosa on the proteinase and phospholipase production and adherence to epithelial cells by Candida albicans isolated from HIV positive and HIV negative patients.


METHODS
Twenty Candida albicans strains isolated from HIV positive and 20 from HIV negative patients were investigated. The isolates were exposed to subinhibitory concentration of crude plant extract and adherence, proteinase and phospholipase production were assessed. The results were analysed using Student's t-test and a two-way ANOVA.


RESULTS
Dodonaea viscosa var. angustifolia inhibited the adherence of Candida albicans to oral epithelial cells (p=<0.01) but no significant effect of the plant extract on proteinase and phospholipase production was observed. Results from Candida albicans strains isolated from HIV positive and HIV negative patients were similar.


CONCLUSIONS
Dodonaea viscosa var. angustifolia inhibited the adherence of Candida albicans to oral epithelial cells, which is the initial step of colonization in the infection process. This plant has a therapeutic potential at subinhibitory concentration.
Patel
Mrudula
M
Division of Oral Microbiology, Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand and National Health Laboratory Services, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa. mrudula.patel@wits.ac.za
Gulube
Zandiswa
Z
Dutton
Mike
M
D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000166:cytology; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D010740:Phospholipases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D029631:Sapindaceae / Q000737:chemistry*
D010936:Plant Extracts; D010740:Phospholipases; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases