In vitro activity of Spirulina platensis water extract against different Candida species isolated from vulvo-vaginal candidiasis cases

Abstract

The high incidence of vulvo-vaginal candidiasis, combined with the growing problems about azole resistance and toxicity of antifungal drugs, highlights the need for the development of new effective strategies for the treatment of this condition. In this context, natural compounds represent promising alternatives. The cyanobacterium Spirulina platensis, a blue-green alga, exhibits antimicrobial activities against several microorganisms. Nevertheless, only few data about the antifungal properties of Spirulina platensis are available and its potential toxic effects have not been largely investigated.The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro activity of a fully-characterized water extract of Spirulina platensis against 22 strains of Candida spp. Prior to considering its potential topical use, we both investigated whether the extract exerted target activities on guinea pig uterine smooth muscle, and the impact of Spirulina platensis on the dominant microorganisms of the vaginal microbiota (i.e., lactobacilli), in order to exclude possible adverse events. By means of a broth microdilution assay, we found that the microalga extract possesses good antifungal properties (MIC: 0.125–0.5 mg/ml), against all the Candida species with a fungicidal activity. At the concentrations active against candida, Spirulina platensis did not modify the spontaneous basic waves pattern of uterine myometrium as underlined by the absence of aberrant contractions, and did not affect the main health-promoting bacteria of the vaginal ecosystem. Finally, we evaluated the selectivity index of our extract by testing its cytotoxicity on three different cell lines and it showed values ranging between 2 and 16.Further in vivo studies are needed, in particular to evaluate the use of control-release formulations in order to maintain Spirulina platensis concentrations at anti-Candida active doses but below the toxic levels found in the present work.

Diversity of vaginal microbiome and metabolome during genital infections

“…To the best of our knowledge, this paper analyzes in depth, for the first time, the vaginal microbiome and metabolome of VVC affected women. VVC represents the most frequent mucocutaneous mycosis caused by yeasts of the genus Candida , with a significant impact on women’s quality of life and associated medical costs, because of the high rate of recurrences and the increasing level of antifungal resistance 21 . In this context, a deep knowledge about the vaginal ecosystem during Candida infections could contribute to better understand VVC pathogenesis and to set up new strategies for its control.…”

Profil Fitokomponen dan Aktivitas Ekstrak Metanol Daun Intaran Bali (Azadiractha indica Juss.) terhadap Candida albicans ATCC-10231

“…Siddha adalah suatu sistem pengobatan berusia ribuan tahun yang bersumber dari India Selatan, yang sampai saat ini masih diterapkan di India, Sri Lanka dan beberapa negara di Asia Tenggara. 6 7 Kandungan klorofil yang banyak terkandung pada ekstrak metanol daun intaran sebagai fitokomponen membawa implikasi bahwa ekstrak ini berpotensi dikembangkan menjadi agen antijamur yang efektif dan toksisitas yang minimal. Ada beberapa strategi yang kami ajukan dalam menjawab tantangan ini di masa mendatang.…”

Microalgae Cultivation for Secondary Metabolite Production

“…Water extracts of S. platensis have shown vulvovaginal antifungal activity on Candida and antifungal activity on several strains of Candida sp. ; this can be the basis for therapeutic treatments, where secondary effects seem to be absent [25].…”