title: Syngonanthus nitens Bong. (Rhul.)-Loaded Nanostructured System for Vulvovaginal Candidiasis Treatment.
abstract: Herbal-loaded drug delivery nanotechnological systems have been extensively studied recently. The antimicrobial activity of medicinal plants has shown better pharmacological action when such plants are loaded into a drug delivery system than when they are not loaded. Syngonanthus nitens Bong. (Rhul.) belongs to the Eriocaulaceae family and presents antiulcerogenic, antioxidant, antibacterial, and antifungal activity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antifungal activity of Syngonanthus nitens (S. nitens) extract that was not loaded (E) or loaded (SE) into a liquid crystal precursor system (S) for the treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) with Candida albicans. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined by the microdilution technique. Additionally, we performed hyphae inhibition and biofilm tests. Finally, experimental candidiasis was evaluated in in vivo models with Wistar female rats. The results showed effective antifungal activity after incorporation into S for all strains tested, with MICs ranging from 31.2 to 62.5 μg/mL. Microscopic observation of SE revealed an absence of filamentous cells 24 h of exposure to a concentration of 31.2 μg/mL. E demonstrated no effective action against biofilms, though SE showed inhibition against biofilms of all strains. In the in vivo experiment, SE was effective in the treatment of infection after only two days of treatment and was more effective than E and amphotericin B. The S. nitens is active against Candida albicans (C. albicans) and the antifungal potential is being enhanced after incorporation into liquid crystal precursor systems (LCPS). These findings represent a promising application of SE in the treatment of VVC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UNESP-Univ Estadual Paulista, Araraquara, São Paulo 14800-903, Brazil. matheusramos_91@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Matheus Aparecido
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Dos Santos Ramos
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UNESP-Univ Estadual Paulista, Araraquara, São Paulo 14800-903, Brazil. lucianitoledo@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Luciani Gaspar
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: de Toledo
authors.affiliation: Department of Drugs and Medicines, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UNESP-Univ Estadual Paulista, Araraquara, São Paulo 14800-903, Brazil. giovana.calixto@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Giovana Maria Fioramonti
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Calixto
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UNESP-Univ Estadual Paulista, Araraquara, São Paulo 14800-903, Brazil. brunavidalb@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Bruna Vidal
authors.initials: BV
authors.lastname: Bonifácio
authors.affiliation: Federal University of São João Del-Rey, Divinópolis, Minas Gerais 36307-352, Brazil. mgfaraujo@ufsj.edu.br.
authors.forename: Marcelo Gonzaga
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: de Freitas Araújo
authors.affiliation: Department of Organic Chemistry, Chemisty Institute, UNESP-Univ Estadual Paulista, Araraquara, São Paulo 14800-060, Brazil. loursant@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Lourdes Campaner
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Dos Santos
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine of São José do Rio Preto-FAMERP, São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo 15090-900, Brazil. margarete@famerp.br.
authors.forename: Margarete Teresa Gottardo
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: de Almeida
authors.affiliation: Department of Drugs and Medicines, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UNESP-Univ Estadual Paulista, Araraquara, São Paulo 14800-903, Brazil. chorilli@fcfar.unesp.br.
authors.forename: Marlus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chorilli
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UNESP-Univ Estadual Paulista, Araraquara, São Paulo 14800-903, Brazil. bauabtm@fcfar.unesp.br.
authors.forename: Taís Maria
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Bauab
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000472:pathogenicity; D002181:Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods; D039262:Eriocaulaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Candida albicans; Syngonanthus nitens; liquid crystal precursor system; therapeutic treatment; vulvovaginal candidiasis