title: Antifungal Activity of Salvia miltiorrhiza Against Candida albicans Is Associated with the Alteration of Membrane Permeability and (1,3)-β-D-Glucan Synthase Activity.
abstract: Candidiasis has posed a serious health risk to immunocompromised patients owing to the increase in resistant yeasts, and Candida albicans is the prominent pathogen of fungal infections. Therefore, there is a critical need for the discovery and characterization of novel antifungals to treat infections caused by C. albicans. In the present study, we report on the antifungal activity of the ethanol extract from Salvia miltiorrhiza against C. albicans and the possible mode of action against C. albicans. The increase in the membrane permeability was evidenced by changes in diphenylhexatriene binding and release of both 260-nm-absorbing intracellular materials and protein. In addition, inhibition of cell wall synthesis was demonstrated by the enhanced minimal inhibitory concentration in the presence of sorbitol and reduced (1,3)-β-D-glucan synthase activity. The above evidence supports the notion that S. miltiorrhiza has antifungal activity against C. albicans by the synergistic activity of targeting the cell membrane and cell wall. These findings indicate that S. miltiorrhiza displays effective activity against C. albicans in vitro and merits further investigation to treat C. albicans-associated infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Korea University, Sejongsi 30019, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Heung-Shick
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Korean Medicine, Semyung University, Jecheon 27136, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Younhee
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000382:microbiology*; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability / Q000187:drug effects; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005964:Glucosyltransferases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D011509:Proteoglycans; D027561:Salvia miltiorrhiza / Q000737:chemistry*; D047071:beta-Glucans / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D011509:Proteoglycans; D047071:beta-Glucans; C010770:polysaccharide-K; D005964:Glucosyltransferases; C040232:glucan synthase
keywords: (1,3)-β-D-glucan synthase; Candida albicans; Salvia miltiorrhiza; antifungal activity; membrane permeability