title: Silver enhances the in vitro antifungal activity of the saponin, CAY-1.
abstract: The fungicidal properties of purified CAY-1, dissolved silver ion and ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) separately were studied in vitro as were the abilities of silver and EDTA to enhance CAY-1 fungicidal properties. Non-germinated and germinating conidia of Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium verticillioides (Fusarium moniliforme), Fusarium oxysporum and Fusarium solani were incubated separately with CAY-1 (0-24.8 μg ml(-1)), silver (0-111.1 μg ml(-1)), and EDTA (0-2400 μg ml(-1)). Controls consisted of non-germinated or germinated conidia in test medium. To assess combined activity, compounds, based on the sub-lethal doses of each as defined in the initial experiments, were combined and tested in bioassays. Controls for the mixed sets consisted of non-germinated or germinated conidia only or with the sub-lethal CAY-1 test concentrations. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for CAY-1 and silver, both separate and combined, were determined. Viability assays showed CAY-1 activity only against the germinating conidia of A. flavus, A. niger and F. solani. Silver was active against the germinating conidia of all fungi and the non-germinated conidia of F. oxysporum and F. solani. Combined silver and CAY-1 produced significant viability loss at concentrations not effective separately. EDTA was not fungicidal separately and did not enhance CAY-1 fungicidal properties. MIC data showed that CAY-1 plus silver had an additive effect. Results indicate that dissolved silver was fungicidal in vitro and enhanced the fungicidal properties of CAY-1 at concentrations ineffective when tested separately.
authors.affiliation: Southern Regional Research Centre, USDA, ARS, New Orleans, LA, USA. adelucca@srrc.ars.usda.gov
authors.forename: Anthony J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: De Lucca
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boue
authors.forename: Tin
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sien
authors.forename: Thomas E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Cleveland
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Walsh
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001230:Aspergillus / Q000187:drug effects*; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004492:Edetic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D005670:Fusarium / Q000187:drug effects*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D050296:Microbial Viability / Q000187:drug effects; D012503:Saponins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012834:Silver / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000187:drug effects; D013256:Steroids / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; C472966:CAY-I; D012503:Saponins; D013256:Steroids; D012834:Silver; D004492:Edetic Acid