Onychomycosis is a major health problem due to its chronicity and resistance to therapy. Because some cases associate paronychia, any therapy must target the fungus and the inflammation. Medicinal plants represent an alternative for onychomycosis control. In the present work the antifungal and antioxidant activities of Alium sativum extract against Meyerozyma guilliermondii (Wick.) Kurtzman & M. Suzuki and Rhodotorula mucilaginosa (A. Jörg.) F.C. Harrison, isolated for the first time from a toenail onychomycosis case, were investigated. The fungal species were confirmed by DNA molecular analysis. A. sativum minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and ultrastructural effects were examined. At the MIC concentration (120 mg/mL) the micrographs indicated severe structural alterations with cell death. The antioxidant properties of the A. sativum extract were evaluated is a rat turpentine oil induced inflammation, and compared to an anti-inflammatory drug, diclofenac, and the main compound from the extract, allicin. A. sativum reduced serum total oxidative status, malondialdehyde and nitric oxide production, and increased total thiols. The effects were comparable to those of allicin and diclofenac. In conclusion, the garlic extract had antifungal effects against M. guilliermondii and R. mucilaginosa, and antioxidant effect in turpentine-induced inflammation. Together, the antifungal and antioxidant activities support that A. sativum is a potential alternative treatment in onychomycosis.
In this study, the content of chelidonine and berberine alkaloids, and sterols and phenols in the Chelidonium majus plant extract were analyzed. Subsequently, the effects of the extract on the germination and growth of Botrytis tulipae fungus on nutritive medium were compared to the effects of fluconazole. The plant extract was used at the minimum inhibitory concentration on B. tulipae developed in tulip leaves and the in vivo effects were investigated. The influence of different concentrations of C. majus extract on the physiological processes of the tulip (gas exchange parameters, photosynthetic light use efficiency, and induced chlorophyll fluorescence) were also tested to assess the applicability of the extract for the protection of ornamental plants against fungal infection. Our results demonstrated that 2% celandine extract does not significantly change the gas exchange parameters (transpiration rate, carbon dioxide uptake, and stomatal conductivity) of leaves exposed for 2 h, and does not interfere with the photochemical processes in the leaves. However, in higher concentrations, it increases the transpiration rate and net carbon dioxide influx. At concentrations of 15% and 20%, the extract lowers the potential quantum yield efficiency of photosystem II and the vitality index of the photosynthetic apparatus. Therefore we recommend the use of lower concentrations (≤6%) of celandine extract for the biological protection of tulips against gray mold.
Identification and quantitative analysis of the phenolic compounds from Hedera helix L. (ivy) flower and fruit ethanol extracts by LC/MS, in vitro germination and growth inhibition effects on Aspergillus niger, Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. tulipae, Penicillium gladioli and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum were performed. In the non-hydrolyzed samples of flower and fruit extracts were determined, in different amounts, five polyphenols (p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, rutoside, quercetol and kaempferol) while quercitrin was identified only in the ivy flower extract. The hydrolyzed samples of the same ivy extracts indicated four phenolic compounds (p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, quercetol and kaempferol), in different concentrations, whereas sinapic acid was only detected in the ivy fruit extract. The antifungal activity of the fresh flower extract was stronger than that of the fresh fruit extract and was compared to that of an antimycotic drug.
Rhodotorula mucilaginosa was isolated from a patient with onychomycosis, and identification was confirmed by morphological and cultural characteristics as well as by DNA molecular analysis. Antifungal agents naftifine (10 mg/mL, active substance in Exoderil) and bifonazole (10 mg/mL, active substance in Canespor) were tested in different concentrations to assess in vitro effects on fungal growth and carotenoid synthesis. The antifungal mechanisms of action of naftifine and bifonazole against R. mucilaginosa isolates were similar and affected the biosynthetic pathway of ergosterol. For the first time, this research demonstrates that naftifine affects the carotenoid biosynthetic pathway, producing depigmentation of R. mucilaginosa in solid and liquid media. Furthermore, depigmentation was a reversible process; naftifine-treated yeast cells that were depigmented resumed carotenoid production upon transfer to fresh media. Raman and UV-vis spectrophotometry in conjunction with chromatographic analysis detected changes in carotenoids in yeast cells, with torulene decreasing and B-carotene increasing after repigmentation. Transmission electron micrographs revealed critical ultrastructural modifications in the depigmented cells after naftifine treatment, i.e., a low-electron-density cell wall without visible mucilage or lamellate structure.
The 50% ethanol extract obtained from Hedera helix leaves was investigated regarding the presence and quantity of polyphenols, sterols and in vitro antifungal activity against phytopathogenic fungi. The chemical analysis revealed the presence of rutin, quercetin and kaempferol in the non-hydrolysed sample and quercetin and kaempferol in the hydrolysed sample and stigmasterol in the ivy leaf extract (nonhydrolysed sample). The antifungal activity against phytopathogenic fungi (Aspergillus niger, Botrytis cinerea, B. tulipae, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. tulipae, Penicillium gladioli, and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum) was assessed using an agar dilution assay. The results are expressed as the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC = 10-14%) and were compared to a synthetic antifungal drug - fluconazole (MIC = 8-30%). This report presents the first screening of the antifungal activity of the ivy leaf extract on these plant pathogenic fungi species, aiming to use the ivy leaf extract for controlling different diseases of vegetables and ornamental plants, in addition to human disorders.
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