Inhibitory effects of the essential oils α-longipinene and linalool on biofilm formation and hyphal growth of Candida albicans.
Candida albicans is one of the most common fungal pathogens, and causes systemic and invasive infections in humans. C. albicans biofilms are composed of yeast and hyphal and pseudohyphal elements, and the transition of yeast to the hyphal stage could be a virulence factor. In this study, diverse essential oils were initially investigated for anti-biofilm activity against C. albicans strains, and cascarilla bark oil and helichrysum oil and their components α-longipinene (a major constituent of both) and linalool were found to markedly inhibit biofilm formation without affecting planktonic cell growth. Moreover, α-longipinene and linalool were found to synergistically reduce biofilm formation. Notably, treatments with cascarilla bark oil, helichrysum oil, α-longipinene, or linalool clearly inhibited hyphal formation, and this appeared to be largely responsible for their anti-biofilm effect. Furthermore, the two essential oils, α-longipinene and linalool, reduced C. albicans virulence in Caenorhabditis elegans.
a School of Chemical Engineering , Yeungnam University , Gyeongsan , Republic of Korea.
Ranjith Kumar
RK
Manoharan
a School of Chemical Engineering , Yeungnam University , Gyeongsan , Republic of Korea.
Jin-Hyung
JH
Lee
a School of Chemical Engineering , Yeungnam University , Gyeongsan , Republic of Korea.
Yong-Guy
YG
Kim
b Nareso Research Center , Suwon , Republic of Korea.
Soon-Il
SI
Kim
a School of Chemical Engineering , Yeungnam University , Gyeongsan , Republic of Korea.
Jintae
J
Lee
D000080462:Acyclic Monoterpenes; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D025301:Hyphae / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D039821:Monoterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014774:Virulence / Q000187:drug effects
D000080462:Acyclic Monoterpenes; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D039821:Monoterpenes; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; C410907:longipinene; C018584:linalool
C. albicans; Caenorhabditis elegans; biofilm formation; essential oil; hyphal formation