Antifungal activity of eugenol on Cryptococcus neoformans biological activity and Cxt۱p gene expression

Background and Purpose: The present study was targeted toward investigating the effects of eugenol on Cryptococcus neoformans biological activity and Cxt۱p gene expression. Materials and Methods: For the purpose of the study, the growth, urease, synergism activity, and disk diffusion of C. neoformans were assessed in eugenol-treated culture. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute M۲۷-A۳ method at a concentration range of ۰.۰۶۲-۲ mg/mL. Subsequently, the expression of Cxt۱p genes was studied at the MIC۵۰ concentration of eugenol using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: The obtained results showed that eugenol at the concentrations of ۱۲۵ and ۵۰۰ μg/mL resulted in ۵۰% and ۱۰۰% growth inhibition in C. neoformans, respectively. In terms of urease activity, the results showed that the addition of MIC۵۰ of eugenol and fluconazole to urea medium reduced urease activity in C. neoformans. In the culture treated with eugenol, the inhibition zone of antifungal drugs, namely amphotericin B, itraconazole, and fluconazole, was increased to ۳۶±۰.۰۰۲, ۲۲±۰.۰۰۱, and ۱۲±۰.۰۰۲ mm, respectively. The expression levels of Cxt۱p in the eugenol-treated, fluconazole-treated, and non-treated samples were estimated at ۴۶%, ۵۸%, and ۱۰۰%, respectively. Conclusion: The findings of the current study revealed that eugenol could cause C. neoformans growth inhibition and reduce Cxt۱p expression in this species. As the results indicated, the susceptibility of C. neoformans to fluconazole was increased when combined with eugenol.

کلیدواژه ها:

Antifungal effects ، Cryptococcus neoformans ، Cxt۱p gene ، Eugenol ، Real-Time PCR