title: A transmission electron microscopy study of the diversity of Candida albicans cells induced by Euphorbia hirta L. leaf extract in vitro.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the major changes in the microstructure of Candida albicans (C. albicans) after treatment with Euphorbia hirta (E. hirta) L. leaf extract.
  
  
  METHODS
  Transmission electron microscopy was used to study the ultrastructural changes caused by E. hirta extract on C. albicans cells at various exposure time.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It was found that the main abnormalities were the alterations in morphology, lysis and complete collapse of the yeast cells after 36 h of exposure to the extract. Whereas the control cultures showed a typical morphology of Candida with a uniform central density, typically structured nucleus, and a cytoplasm with several elements of endomembrane system and enveloped by a regular, intact cell wall.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The significant antifungal activity shown by this methanol extract of E. hirta L. suggests its potential against infections caused by C. albicans. The extract may be developed as an anticandidal agent.
authors.affiliation: Biology Division, School of Distance Education, Universiti Sains Malaysia, USM 11800, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Abu Arra
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Basma
authors.forename: Zakaria
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zuraini
authors.forename: Sreenivasan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sasidharan
mesh_terms: D002176:Candida albicans / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D028481:Euphorbia / Q000737:chemistry*; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Anticandidal agent; Candida albicans; Euphorbia hirta L.; Transmission electron microscopy