title: Evaluation of antifungal activity of medicinal plant extracts against oral Candida albicans and proteinases.
abstract: Proteinases produced by Candida albicans are one kind of virulence factor expressed that contribute to adherence and invasion of host tissue. Proteinase inhibitor of human immunodeficiency virus in experimental candidiasis suggested reduction in fungal infection, and medicinal plants could be a source of alternative agent to prevent diseases. In this study, we investigated the production of proteinases by C. albicans from clinical isolates and the action of plant extracts against strains of C. albicans and its synthesized proteinases, comparing with antifungal fluconazole and amphotericin B and proteinase inhibitors pepstatin A, amprenavir, and ritonavir. The results reported here showed that these extracts have a certain kind of action and that the search for new antifungal agents could be found at the plants.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Diagnóstico Oral, Faculdade de Odontologia de Piracicaba, FOP/UNICAMP Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil. hofling@fop.unicamp.br
authors.forename: José Francisco
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Höfling
authors.forename: Rita Cássia
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Mardegan
authors.forename: Paula Cristina
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Anibal
authors.forename: Vivian Fernandes
authors.initials: VF
authors.lastname: Furletti
authors.forename: Mary Ann
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Foglio
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002180:Candidiasis, Oral / Q000382:microbiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011480:Protease Inhibitors; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases