title: Synergistic antifungal effect of glabridin and fluconazole.
abstract: The incidence of invasive fungal infections is increasing in recent years. The present study mainly investigated glabridin (Gla) alone and especially in combination with fluconazole (FLC) against Cryptococcus neoformans and Candida species (Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, Candida krusei, Candida parapsilosis and Candida Glabratas) by different methods. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimal fungicidal concentration (MFC) indicated that Gla possessed a broad-spectrum antifungal activity at relatively high concentrations. After combining with FLC, Gla exerted a potent synergistic effect against drug-resistant C. albicans and C. tropicalis at lower concentrations when interpreted by fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI). Disk diffusion test and time-killing test confirming the synergistic fungicidal effect. Cell growth tests suggested that the synergistic effect of the two drugs depended more on the concentration of Gla. The cell envelop damage including a significant decrease of cell size and membrane permeability increasing were found after Gla treatment. Together, our results suggested that Gla possessed a synergistic effect with FLC and the cell envelope damage maybe contributed to the synergistic effect, which providing new information for developing novel antifungal agents.
authors: Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors: Wei
authors: W
authors: Liu
authors: Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors: Li Ping
authors: LP
authors: Li
authors: Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors: Jun Dong
authors: JD
authors: Zhang
authors: Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors: Qun
authors: Q
authors: Li
authors: Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors: Hui
authors: H
authors: Shen
authors: Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors: Si Min
authors: SM
authors: Chen
authors: Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors: Li Juan
authors: LJ
authors: He
authors: New Drug Research and Development Center, School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
authors: Lan
authors: L
authors: Yan
authors: Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors: Guo Tong
authors: GT
authors: Xu
authors: Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors: Mao Mao
authors: MM
authors: An
authors: Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; New Drug Research and Development Center, School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
authors: Yuan Ying
authors: YY
authors: Jiang
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002175:Candida / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000187:drug effects; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D025141:Drug Resistance, Fungal / Q000187:drug effects; D004357:Drug Synergism; D015725:Fluconazole / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007529:Isoflavones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010636:Phenols / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D007529:Isoflavones; D010636:Phenols; D015725:Fluconazole; C107601:glabridin