title: Evaluation of Antifungal Activity and Mechanism of Action of Citral against Candida albicans.
abstract: Candida albicans is a yeast that commensally inhabits the human body and can cause opportunistic or pathogenic infections. Objective. To investigate the antifungal activity of citral against C. albicans. Methodology. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) were determined by the broth microdilution techniques. We also investigated possible citral action on cell walls (0.8 M sorbitol), cell membranes (citral to ergosterol binding), the time-kill curve, and biological activity on the yeast's morphology. Results. The MIC and MFC of citral were, respectively, 64 µg/mL and 256 µg/mL. Involvement with the cell wall and ergosterol binding were excluded as possible mechanisms of action. In the morphological interference assay, it was observed that the product inhibited pseudohyphae and chlamydoconidia formation. The MIC and the MFC of citral required only 4 hours of exposure to effectively kill 99.9% of the inoculum. Conclusion. Citral showed in vitro antifungal potential against strains of C. albicans. Citral's mechanism of action does not involve the cell wall or ergosterol, and further study is needed to completely describe its effects before being used in the future as a component of new antifungals.
authors.affiliation: Federal Institute of Education, Science, and Technology of Paraíba (IFPB), 58780-000 Itaporanga, PB, Brazil ; Mycology Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Paraíba, 58051-970 João Pessoa, PB, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Clerya Alvino
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Leite
authors.affiliation: Mycology Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Paraíba, 58051-970 João Pessoa, PB, Brazil.
authors.forename: André Parente de Brito
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Bezerra
authors.affiliation: Mycology Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Paraíba, 58051-970 João Pessoa, PB, Brazil.
authors.forename: Janiere Pereira
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: de Sousa
authors.affiliation: Mycology Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Paraíba, 58051-970 João Pessoa, PB, Brazil.
authors.forename: Felipe Queiroga Sarmento
authors.initials: FQ
authors.lastname: Guerra
authors.affiliation: Mycology Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Paraíba, 58051-970 João Pessoa, PB, Brazil.
authors.forename: Edeltrudes de Oliveira
authors.initials: Ede O
authors.lastname: Lima