title: Effect of jujube honey on Candida albicans growth and biofilm formation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Candida species, especially Candida albicans, are major fungal pathogens of humans that are capable of causing superficial mucosal infections and systemic infections in humans. The aim of this study was to evaluate the jujube (Zizyphus spina-christi) honey for its in vitro inhibitory activity against pre-formed biofilm and its interference with the biofilm formation of C. albicans.
  
  
  METHODS
  The XTT reduction assay, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were employed to determine the inhibitory effect of Jujube honey on C. albicans biofilm. Changes in the infrared spectrum after treatment with honey were also determined by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Jujube honey affects biofilms by decreasing the size of mature biofilms and by disruption of their structure. At a concentration of 40% w/v, it interferes with formation of C. albicans biofilms and disrupts established biofilms. The SEM and AFM results indicated that this type of honey affected the cellular morphology of C. albicans and decreased biofilm thickness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present findings show that jujube honey has antifungal properties against C. albicans and has the ability to inhibit the formation of C. albicans biofilms and disrupt established biofilms.
authors.affiliation: Chair of Engineer Abdullah Ahmad Bugshan for Bee Research, Department of Plant Protection, College of Food and Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Mohammad Javed
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Ansari
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Ghamdi
authors.forename: Salma
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Usmani
authors.forename: Noori S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Al-Waili
authors.forename: Deepak
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Adgaba
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nuru
authors.forename: Yehya
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Al-Attal
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006722:Honey; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods; D031957:Ziziphus
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents
keywords: Atomic force microscopy; Biofilm; Candida albicans; Jujube honey; Scanning electron microscopy