Title:Antifungal Activity of Plant Secondary Metabolites on Candida albicans:
An Updated Review
Volume: 16
Author(s): Andleeb Khan*, Sivakumar Sivagurunathan Moni, M. Ali, Syam Mohan, Huma Jan, Saiema Rasool, Mohammad A Kamal, Saeed Alshahrani, Maryam Halawi and Hassan A Alhazmi
Affiliation:
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Jazan University, Jazan, 45142, Saudi Arabia
Keywords:
Fungal model systems, Candida albicans, Candidiasis, Drug resistance, secondary metabolites, green medicines.
Abstract: Fungal infections have been increasing continuously worldwide, especially in immunocompromised
individuals. Fungi, regarded as eukaryotic pathogens, have many similarities to the host cells,
which inhibit anti-fungal drug development progress. Various fungal model systems have been studied,
and it was concluded that Candida spp. is the most common disease-causing fungus. Candida species are
well known to cause infections not only in our mouth, skin, and vagina, but they are also a frequent cause
of life-threatening hospital bloodstream infections. The morphological and developmental pathways of
Candida have been studied extensively, providing insight into the fungus development. Candida albicans
is known to be the most pathogenic species responsible for a variety of infections in humans. Conventional
anti-fungal drugs, mainly azoles drugs available in the market, have been used for years developing
resistance in C. albicans. Hence, the production of new anti-fungal drugs, which require detailed molecular
knowledge of fungal pathogenesis, needs to be encouraged. Therefore, this review targets the new
approach of "Green Medicines" or the phytochemicals and their secondary metabolites as a source of
novel anti-fungal agents to overcome the drug resistance of C. albicans, their mechanism of action, and
their combined effects with the available anti-fungal drugs.
