In vitro activity of natural honey alone and in combination with curcuma starch against Rhodotorula mucilaginosa in correlation with bioactive compounds and diastase activity.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the in vitro activity and synergism of the combinations of natural honey and curcuma starch against Rhodotorula mucilaginosa in correlation with total phenolic, flavonoid contents, and diastase activity.


METHODS
The Folin-Ciocalteu test was used to determine the total polyphenols content and the flavonoid content was analyzed using by the aluminum chloride method. The antifungal activity of the natural honey, determined by an agar well diffusion assay and agar incorporation method.


RESULTS
Total phenolic content varied from (63.930.11) to (95.366.08) mg GAE/100 g honey as gallic acid equivalent. Total flavonoids content varied from (5.41±0.04) to (9.94±0.54) mg CE/100 g. Diastase activity values were between (7.3±2.8) and (26±2.8). The zone inhibition diameter for the six honey samples without starch ranged between 6 and 20 mm. When starch was mixed with honey and then added to well, a zone inhibition increase diameter 7 and 21 mm. The percentage increase was noticed with each variety and it ranged between 5% and 62.5%. The minimal inhibitory concentrations for the six varieties of honey without starch against Rhodotorula mucilaginosa ranged between 28% and 36% (v/v). When starch was incubated with honey and then added to media, a minimal inhibitory concentration drop has been noticed with each variety. It ranged between 6.66 % and 20% (w/v). No significant correlation was established between diastase activity and bioactive compounds.


CONCLUSIONS
The mixture of curcuma starch and honey could lead to the development of new combination antibiotics against Rhodotorula infections.
Pharmacognosy and Api-Phytotherapy Research Laboratory, Mostaganem University, Algeria. Electronic address: moussa7014@yahoo.fr.
Moussa
M
Ahmed
Noureddine
N
Djebli
Saad
S
Aissat
Baghdad
B
Khiati
Abdelmalek
A
Meslem
Salima
S
Bacha
D000681:Amylases / Q000378:metabolism*; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D030024:Curcuma / Q000737:chemistry*; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000737:chemistry; D006722:Honey; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010636:Phenols / Q000737:chemistry; D012248:Rhodotorula / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D013213:Starch / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D005419:Flavonoids; D010636:Phenols; D013213:Starch; D000681:Amylases
Bioactive Compounds; Curcuma starch; Diastase number; Honey; Rhodotorula mucilaginosa