Antifungal mechanism of essential oil from Anethum graveolens seeds against Candida albicans

Abstract

This work studied the antifungal mechanism of dill seed essential oil (DSEO) against Candida albicans. Flow cytometric analysis and inhibition of ergosterol synthesis were performed to clarify the mechanism of action of DSEO on C. albicans. Upon treatment of cells with DSEO, propidium iodide penetrated C. albicans through a lesion in its plasma membrane. DSEO also significantly reduced the amount of ergosterol. These findings indicate that the plasma membrane of C. albicans was damaged by DSEO. The effect of DSEO on the functions of the mitochondria in C. albicans was also studied. We assayed the mitochondrial membrane potential (mtDy) using rhodamine 123 and determined the production of mitochondrial dysfunction-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) via flow cytometry. The effects of the antioxidant L-cysteine (Cys) on DSEO-induced ROS production and the antifungal effect of DSEO on C. albicans were investigated. Exposure to DSEO increased mtDy. Dysfunctions in the mitochondria caused ROS accumulation in C. albicans. This increase in the level of ROS production and DSEO-induced decrease in cell viability were prevented by the addition of Cys, indicating that ROS are an important mediator of the antifungal action of DSEO. These findings indicate that the cytoplasmic membrane and mitochondria are the main anti-Candida targets of DSEO.

An Antifungal Mechanism of Protolichesterinic Acid from the Lichen Usnea albopunctata Lies in the Accumulation of Intracellular ROS and Mitochondria-Mediated Cell Death Due to Apoptosis in Candida tropicalis

“…The mitochondria play an important role in the cell, for example apoptosis, pH homeostasis, redox and ATP production (Chen et al, 2013). In the mitochondria, ATP is usually formed from the phosphorylation of mitochondrial oxidative mechanism, in which ΔΨm plays a vital function (Chen et al, 2013).…”

“…In the mitochondria, ATP is usually formed from the phosphorylation of mitochondrial oxidative mechanism, in which ΔΨm plays a vital function (Chen et al, 2013). ΔΨm is a key factor indicating the energetic state of the cell and other cellular organelles such as mitochondria (Chen et al, 2013).…”

“…In the mitochondria, ATP is usually formed from the phosphorylation of mitochondrial oxidative mechanism, in which ΔΨm plays a vital function (Chen et al, 2013). ΔΨm is a key factor indicating the energetic state of the cell and other cellular organelles such as mitochondria (Chen et al, 2013). Mitochondrial electron transport inhibitors, such as antimycin A and potassium cyanide, reduce ΔΨm by inhibiting the function of respiratory chain proton pumping, which leads to reduced production of ATP and this finally leads to cell death.…”

Reactive Oxygen Species-Inducing Antifungal Agents and Their Activity Against Fungal Biofilms

“…ROS accumulation and eventually apoptosis and/or necrosis in fungal pathogens has been demonstrated for several chemical compounds isolated from plants, such as shikonin from roots of Lithospermum erythrorhizon [76], medioresinol from stem bark of Sambucus williamsii [77], styraxjaponoside C from stem bark of Styrax japonica [78], amentoflavone from Selaginella tamariscina [79], dill seed essential oil (Anethum graveolens) [80,81], the polyphenol curcumin [82], plagiochin E from liverwort Marchantia polymorpha [83,84] and baicalein from Scutellaria baicaleinsis roots [85]. Moreover, the plant defensins HsAFP1 (Heuchera sanguinea), RsAFP2 (Raphinus sativus) and PvD1 (Phaseolus vulgaris), active against several yeast and fungal species were found to induce ROS accumulation in C. albicans and Fusarium oxysporum [86][87][88].…”

Dill in traditional medicine and modern phytotherapy

“…Etarsko ulje ploda mirođije deluje antifungalno na soj Candida albicans [59], kao i na Aspergillus flavus [60], tako što pogađa citoplazmatičnu membranu i mitohondrije ovih gljiva [60,61]. Etarsko ulje ploda mirođije inhibira i rast A. niger i Sacharomyces cerevisae [62].…”