The Effects of Ellagic Acid on Growth and Biofilm Formation of Candida albicans

Abstract

Introduction: Biofilm formation is one of the specific features of Candida albicans that protects it from antifungal agents and the host immune system. Also, Biofilm formation by C. albicans on the mucosal surfaces and medical devices are responsible for causing Candida nosocomial infection. Here, we investigated the effects of ellagic acid on C. albicans growth and biofilm formation regarding the expression of two essential genes that are involved in adhesion and yeast-hypha transition. Methods: The yeasts were treated with serial twofold concentrations of ellagic acid (3.125-100 µg/ml) for 48 h at 35°C. The weights of the cultured yeasts were measured as an indicator of the fungal growth, and the biofilm formation was assessed by a tetrazolium salt (XTT) reduction assay. The expression of HWP1 and ALS3 genes was assayed by real-time PCR. Results: Ellagic acid inhibited C. albicans growth 0.68%-82.44%, dosedependently. The biofilm formation also reduced 2.61%-68.318%. Also, The expression of HWP1 and ALS3 genes was notably suppressed by ellagic acid at different concentrations. Conclusion: Our results showed that ellagic acid is a potential candidate to eliminate C. albicans-generated biofilm by suppressing the expression of the involved genes.

Pomegranate Extract Affects Fungal Biofilm Production: Consumption of Phenolic Compounds and Alteration of Fungal Autoinducers Release

“…Similarly, the total consumption of ellagic acid, observed in our model, implies its direct role against Candida . In agreement with our data, Nejatbakhsh et al [ 40 ] have shown that ellagic acid impairs both growth and biofilm formation by C. albicans ; in addition, the expression of two genes, hypha-specific wall protein 1 (HWP1) and agglutinin-like sequence 3 (ALS3), known to be involved in adhesion and dimorphyic transition, happens to be deeply suppressed. Taken together, those of [ 40 ] and present findings strengthen the relevance of fungal adhesion and filamentation in the establishment of a sessile community and underline the impact of PomeGr and its compounds as potentially useful antibiofilm agent.…”

The Effects of Dehydrozingerone on Growth, Biofilm Formation, and Ergosterol Biosynthesis of Candida albicans

“…Furthermore, our results demonstrated that the suppression in the HWP1 gene expression was in a dosedependently manner. In the previous study, we showed that ellagic acid suppressed HWP1 gene expression by up to 80% [29], but here, the expression of the HWP1 gene did not reach 50% of the highest concentration of DHZ in comparison with control (Fig. 2).…”

Essential oil of Lippia multiflora Moldenke Flowers Quenches Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 Biofilm Formation and Motilities

“…23 Likewise, compounds from the coumarin family (esculetin), flavonoids (fisetin) and tannins (ellagic acid) have the capacity to inhibit the bacterial biofilm formation. [24][25][26] Other studies have shown that essential oils are capable of inhibiting adhesin, a protein used by bacteria to adhere to surfaces, which is the basis for the formation of biofilms. Biofilm formation in P. aeruginosa is under the control of a mechanism called quorum sensing.…”