title: Utilising polyphenols for the clinical management of Candida albicans biofilms.
abstract: Polyphenols (PPs) are secondary metabolites abundant in plant-derived foods. They are reported to exhibit antimicrobial activity that may offer an alternative to existing antimicrobials. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antifungal potential of PPs against Candida albicans biofilms that are commonly recalcitrant to antifungal therapy. The antifungal activity of 14 PPs was assessed in terms of planktonic and sessile minimum inhibitory concentrations (PMICs and SMICs, respectively) against various C. albicans clinical isolates. The most active PPs were further tested for their effect on C. albicans adhesion and biofilm growth using standard biomass assays, microscopy and quantitative gene expression. Of the 14 PPs tested, 7 were effective inhibitors of planktonic growth, of which pyrogallol (PYG) was the most effective (PMIC₅₀=78 μg/mL), followed by curcumin (CUR) (PMIC₅₀=100 μg/mL) and pyrocatechol (PMIC₅₀=625 μg/mL). Both PYG and CUR displayed activity against C. albicans biofilms (SMIC₅₀=40 μg/mL and 50 μg/mL, respectively), although they did not disrupt the biofilm or directly affect the cellular structure. Overall, CUR displayed superior biofilm activity, significantly inhibiting initial cell adhesion following pre-coating (P<0.01), biofilm growth (P<0.05) and gene expression (P<0.05). This inhibitory effect diminished with prolonged CUR exposure, although it still inhibited by 50% after 4h adhesion. Overall, CUR exhibited positive antibiofilm properties that could be used at the basis for development of similar molecules, although further cellular and in vivo studies are required to explore its precise mechanism of action.
authors.affiliation: Human Nutrition, School of Medicine, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, The University of Glasgow, Glasgow G31 2ER, UK; Infection and Immunity Research Group, Glasgow Dental School, School of Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, The University of Glasgow, 378 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow G2 3JZ, UK.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shahzad
authors.affiliation: Infection and Immunity Research Group, Glasgow Dental School, School of Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, The University of Glasgow, 378 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow G2 3JZ, UK.
authors.forename: Leighann
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sherry
authors.affiliation: Infection and Immunity Research Group, Glasgow Dental School, School of Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, The University of Glasgow, 378 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow G2 3JZ, UK.
authors.forename: Ranjith
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rajendran
authors.affiliation: Human Nutrition, School of Medicine, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, The University of Glasgow, Glasgow G31 2ER, UK.
authors.forename: Christine A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.affiliation: Human Nutrition, School of Medicine, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, The University of Glasgow, Glasgow G31 2ER, UK.
authors.forename: Emilie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Combet
authors.affiliation: Infection and Immunity Research Group, Glasgow Dental School, School of Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, The University of Glasgow, 378 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow G2 3JZ, UK. Electronic address: gordon.ramage@glasgow.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Gordon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ramage
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008853:Microscopy; D059808:Polyphenols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013053:Spectrophotometry
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D059808:Polyphenols
keywords: Adhesion; Biofilm; Candida albicans; Curcumin; Polyphenol; Pyrogallol