Title:Molecules and Metabolites from Natural Products as Inhibitors of Biofilm in Candida spp. pathogens
Volume: 19
Issue: 28
Author(s): Rajeev K. Singla and Ashok K. Dubey*
Affiliation:
- Drug Discovery Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences and Engineering, Netaji Subhas University of Technology, New Delhi-110078,India
Keywords:
Biofilm inhibitors, Candida-biofilm, Virulence factor, Anti-Candida metabolites, Natural products, Antifungal
drugs.
Abstract:
Background: Biofilm is a critical virulence factor associated with the strains of Candida spp.
pathogens as it confers significant resistance to the pathogen against antifungal drugs.
Methods: A systematic review of the literature was undertaken by focusing on natural products, which
have been reported to inhibit biofilms produced by Candida spp. The databases explored were from
PubMed and Google Scholar. The abstracts and full text of the manuscripts from the literature were analyzed
and included if found significant.
Results: Medicinal plants from the order Lamiales, Apiales, Asterales, Myrtales, Sapindales, Acorales,
Poales and Laurales were reported to inhibit the biofilms formed by Candida spp. From the microbiological
sources, lactobacilli, Streptomyces chrestomyceticus and Streptococcus thermophilus B had
shown the strong biofilm inhibition potential. Further, the diverse nature of the compounds from classes
like terpenoids, phenylpropanoid, alkaloids, flavonoids, polyphenol, naphthoquinone and saponin was
found to be significant in inhibiting the biofilm of Candida spp.
Conclusion: Natural products from both plant and microbial origins have proven themselves as a goldmine
for isolating the potential biofilm inhibitors with a specific or multi-locus mechanism of action.
Structural and functional characterization of the bioactive molecules from active extracts should be the
next line of approach along with the thorough exploration of the mechanism of action for the already
identified bioactive molecules.
