SUNFLOWER HULLS EXTRACTS EXHIBITS ANTIFUNGAL PROPERTIES AGAINST C. albicans.

RODRIGUEZ, GUADALUPE; DEL RÍO, MARIANELA; RADICIONI, MELISA; MARTINEZ, GUADALUPE ; REGENTE, MARIANA

Mar del PLata

Congreso; Reunión Anual de Sociedades de Biociencias 2023; 2023

Sociedad Argentina de Investigación Clínica

Candida albicans is an opportunistic fungus causing superficial andsystemic infections. The search for safe and efficient antifungalcompounds is a challenge for researchers. Sunflower husk (SH) isan agroindustrial by-product rich in phenolic compounds with bioactiveproperties as natural therapeutic agents. The objective of thiswork was to explore the antifungal activity of extracts from SH onC. albicans. Phenolic extracts (PE) were prepared by macerationof SH in 80%, 50%, 30% and 0% ethanol. Total polyphenols werequantified with the Folin-Ciocalteu method, and the characterizationof their composition was analyzed by high performance liquid chromatographtechnique (HPLC) to tentatively identified major phenoliccompound. Fungal growth inhibition assays were performed in liquidmedium in the presence and absence of different doses of eachextract and OD reading at 630nm was determined. Also, viabilityassays were performed by (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2 ,5-diphenyltetrazoliumbromide) (MTT) protocol. According to HPLC results,chlorogenic acid (CGA) and caffeic acid (CA) were identified as themajor phenolic acids in PE 80, 50 and 30; while in the aqueous extractonly caffeic acid was detected. Regarding their biological activity,PE 80 was the extract with the best antifungal behavior displayinga MIC50 0.6 mg/ml phenols acids, while PE 50 and PE 30 showedless potent activity and the aqueous extract did not exhibit antifungalaction in the evaluated doses. The yeasts treated with PE 80 werevacuolized, indicating loss of permeability of the plasma membrane,loss of typical yeast shape and presence of cell agglomerates. Ourresults support the study of sunflower husk ethanolic extracts as apromising tool for the treatment of human fungal diseases.