title: Effects of Pimenta pseudocaryophyllus (Gomes) L. R. Landrum, on melanized and non-melanized Cryptococcus neoformans.
abstract: In the present study, the in vitro susceptibility and capsular width from both melanized and non-melanized Cryptococcus neoformans cells in the presence of Pimenta pseudocaryophyllus crude extract were determined. The results were compared with those obtained for voriconazole and amphotericin B. Melanization was obtained in minimal medium broth with the addition of L-dopa, and the antifungal susceptibility tests were performed using the broth microdilution method. Capsular width of 30 cells of each one of the isolates in medium with crude extracts of P. pseudocaryophyllus or voriconazole or amphotericin B at a concentration corresponding to 0.5 times the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) was measured, and the mean was calculated. The MICs and minimal fungicidal concentrations (MFCs) for plant extract and voriconazole were identical for both melanized and non-melanized C. neoformans isolates, but for amphotericin, the MFCs for melanized cells were up to 8 times higher than for non-melanized cells. The capsular width of C. neoformans cells was smaller (p < 0.001) in the presence crude extract of P. pseudocaryophyllus and of voriconazole regardless melanization. The findings of capsule alterations of C. neoformans verified in this study provide fertile ways for future research into the effects of antifungal agents on the pathogenesis of cryptococcosis.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil.
authors.forename: Orionalda
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: de Fátima Lisboa Fernandes
authors.forename: Carolina Rodrigues
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Ruy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: de Souza Lino Junior
authors.forename: Marina Clare
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Vinaud
authors.forename: Lúcia Kioko
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Hasimoto E Souza
authors.forename: Joelma Abadia Marciano
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: de Paula
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: do Rosário Rodrigues Silva
mesh_terms: D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000494:pharmacology; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000382:microbiology; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D025141:Drug Resistance, Fungal; D062607:Fungal Capsules / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008543:Melanins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D027841:Pimenta / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D014230:Triazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D065819:Voriconazole
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D008543:Melanins; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011743:Pyrimidines; D014230:Triazoles; D000666:Amphotericin B; D065819:Voriconazole