title: Composition of Cassia fistula oil and its antifungal activity by disrupting ergosterol biosynthesis.
abstract: Cassia fistula oil was investigated for antifungal activities against standard and clinical isolates of Candida species. Gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometric (GC-MS) analysis of C. fistula oil revealed the presence of antimicrobial compounds like beta-sitosterol, stigmasterol, ergosterol, betulinic acid, lupeol, fucosterol, alpha-amyrin and friedelin. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the pulp and seed oils ranged between 250-300 and 350-500 microg/mL respectively. Both oils also inhibited by > or = 63.8% ergosterol bio-synthesis in Candida cell wall {fluconazole (standard) > or = 89.1%)}. The MICs were significantly correlated with the ergosterol content decrease in the cell wall (Student's t test p < or = 0.005). We can, therefore, conclude that active compounds are present in Cassia fistula oil that primarily target ergosterol biosynthesis in Candida cell wall.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biosciences, Jamia Millia Islamia (Central University), New Delhi-110025, India. irshad_bioscience@yahoo.co.in
authors.forename: Md
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Irshad
authors.forename: Aijaz
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.forename: Md
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zafaryab
authors.forename: Farah
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.forename: Nikhat
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Manzoor
authors.forename: Man
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: M Moshahid A
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Rizvi
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002366:Cassia / Q000737:chemistry*; D004875:Ergosterol / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000032:analysis* / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D010938:Plant Oils; D004875:Ergosterol