ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITY OF A Ligaria cuneifolia METABOLITE AND COMBINATION WITH COMMERCIAL ANTIFUNGALS AGAINST Candida albicans

SOBERON. J.R.; SGARIGLIA, M.A.; SAMPIETRO, D.A.; VATTUONE, M.A.

SAN MIGUEL DE TUCUMAN

Congreso; XXIX ANNUAL SCIENTIFIC MEETING OF TUCUMAN BIOLOGY ASSOCIATION; 2012

TUCUMAN BIOLOGY ASSOCIATION

In recent years, fungal infections have increased, especially in immunocompromised hosts. Candida spp. represents one the major causes of fungal infection. Commonly used antifungal drugs are toxic to hosts or act as fungistatics, leading to antifungal resistance development, making it necessary to fi nd more effective and safe antifungal drugs. A compound isolated from the methanolic extract of Ligaria cuneifolia leaves called MLC7 was assayed alone and combined with commercial antifungal drugs against C. albicans (ATCC 10231). Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) for MLC7 was 5 ìg. mL-1, with fungistatic activity. Combination assays with Amphotericin B (AMB) showed additive effects between them, with combined inhibitory activity=1.05. The association between these drugs could be used to diminish the therapeutic doses of AMB along with its nephrotoxic effects. We are carrying out assays to elucidate the chemical structure of MLC7 and its mode of action.