title: Antimicrobial activity, synergism and inhibition of germ tube formation by Crocus sativus-derived compounds against Candida spp.
abstract: The limited arsenal of synthetic antifungal agents and the emergence of resistant Candida strains have prompted the researchers towards the investigation of naturally occurring compounds or their semisynthetic derivatives in order to propose new innovative hit compounds or new antifungal combinations endowed with reduced toxicity. We explored the anti-Candida effects, for the first time, of two bioactive compounds from Crocus sativus stigmas, namely crocin 1 and safranal, and some semisynthetic derivatives of safranal obtaining promising biological results in terms of minimum inhibitory concentration/minimum fungicidal concentration (MIC/MFC) values, synergism and reduction in the germ tube formation. Safranal and its thiosemicarbazone derivative 5 were shown to display good activity against Candida spp.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pharmacy , "G. D'Annunzio" University of Chieti-Pescara , Chieti , Italy.
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Carradori
authors.affiliation: b Department of Drug Chemistry and Technology , and.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chimenti
authors.affiliation: c Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases , Sapienza University of Rome , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fazzari
authors.affiliation: b Department of Drug Chemistry and Technology , and.
authors.forename: Arianna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Granese
authors.affiliation: c Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases , Sapienza University of Rome , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Letizia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Angiolella
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development*; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D027622:Crocus / Q000737:chemistry*; D053138:Cyclohexenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004357:Drug Synergism; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D015394:Molecular Structure; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D013729:Terpenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D053138:Cyclohexenes; D013729:Terpenes; D002338:Carotenoids; C087963:safranal; C029036:crocin
keywords: Candida spp.; Crocus sativus L.; checkerboard method; germ tube formation; safranal