Avaliação in vitro da atividade antifúngica da Berberina frente à cepas de Candida spp. resistentes ao fluconazol

Abstract

Among the pathogenic fungi, of the genus Candida are the most common to humans and candidiasis has been increasingly reported in immune deficient patients. Nowadays, we have observed and experienced an increase of invasive fungal infections. However, antifungal drugs such as fluconazole lost its effectiveness due to the antifungal resistance, causing it to seek new therapeutic strategies. Due to this, natural products emerge as a new source for obtaining compounds with antifungal activity deserves special mention berberine. The evaluation of the antifungal effect was determined by the microdilution broth method (M27- A3) and flow cytometric techniques which assess the probable mechanism of action of that compound. The strains used in the study belong to Laboratory of Bioprospection and Experiments in Yeast (LABEL) of the UFC. All of evaluated strains showed sensitivity to berberine. The tests showed that treatment with berberine led cells of Candida albicans to cell death by apoptosis. Data presented in this study to collaborate in the future berberine can be used as an antifungal agent for treating candidemias, though a larger number of strains and tests are needed to confirm these findings.