title: β-Asarone, an active principle of Acorus calamus rhizome, inhibits morphogenesis, biofilm formation and ergosterol biosynthesis in Candida albicans.
abstract: Anti-Candida potential of Acorus calamus rhizome and its active principle, β-asarone, was evaluated against the human fungal pathogen, Candida albicans. β-Asarone exhibited promising growth inhibitory activity at 0.5mg/ml and it was fungicidal at 8 mg/ml. Time dependant kill curve assay showed that MFC of β-asarone was highly toxic to C. albicans, killing 99.9% inoculum within 120 min of exposure. β-Asarone caused significant inhibition of C. albicans morphogenesis and biofilm development at sub-inhibitory concentrations. Our data indicate that the growth inhibitory activity of β-asarone might be through inhibition of ergosterol biosynthesis. Hemolytic assay showed that β-asarone is non-toxic, even at concentrations approaching MIC value. Our results suggest that β-asarone may be safe as a topical antifungal agent.
authors.affiliation: DST-FIST and UGC-SAP Sponsored School of Life Sciences, SRTM University, Nanded 431606, MS, India.
authors.forename: Sandeep B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Rajput
authors.forename: S Mohan
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Karuppayil
mesh_terms: D029023:Acorus / Q000737:chemistry*; D000081248:Allylbenzene Derivatives; D000840:Anisoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004875:Ergosterol / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D027343:Rhizome / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000081248:Allylbenzene Derivatives; D000840:Anisoles; D000935:Antifungal Agents; C012195:asarone; D004875:Ergosterol