In vitro evaluation of the curcumin against fluconazole-resistant strains of Candida spp. and Cryptococcus neoformans

Abstract

The isolates of Candida spp. and Cryptococcus neoformans were inhibited by curcumin, with different degrees of inhibition among species, with MICs ranging from 8-64 μg/mL. After exposure of the C. albicans strains to curcumin, it was observed a decrease in the number of viable cells and damage to cell membranes, the mitochondrial function of C. albicans cells appears to be affected after exposure to curcumin. Our data suggest that after exposure to curcumin, C. albicans cells showed total strand breaks in the DNA, where the nuclear DNA fragmentation was evident in the comet assay. Oxidative damage to DNA was verified by the alkaline comet assay in the presence of Fpg, where it was observed an increase in DNA migration of cells that were treated with curcumin. Based on the characteristics of cell death observed, it is raised the hypothesis that curcumin seems to exert its antifungal activity at specific sites near the DNA, resulting in cell death by apoptosis.