Antifungal Effect and Inhibition of the Virulence Mechanism of D-Limonene against <i>Candida parapsilosis</i>
Melyna Chaves Leite-Andrade,
Luiz Nascimento de Araújo Neto,
Maria Daniela Silva Buonafina-Paz,
Franz de Assis Graciano dos Santos,
Adryelle Idalina da Silva Alves,
Maria Carolina Accioly Brelaz de Castro,
Edna Mori,
Bruna Caroline Gonçalves Vasconcelos de Lacerda,
Isaac Moura Araújo,
Henrique Douglas Melo Coutinho,
Grażyna Kowalska,
Radosław Kowalski,
Tomasz Baj,
Rejane Pereira Neves
Affiliations
Melyna Chaves Leite-Andrade
Departamento de Medicina Tropical, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE), Recife 50670-901, PE, Brazil
Luiz Nascimento de Araújo Neto
Departamento de Micologia, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE), Recife 50670-901, PE, Brazil
Maria Daniela Silva Buonafina-Paz
Departamento de Micologia, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE), Recife 50670-901, PE, Brazil
Franz de Assis Graciano dos Santos
Departamento de Micologia, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE), Recife 50670-901, PE, Brazil
Adryelle Idalina da Silva Alves
Departamento de Medicina Tropical, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE), Recife 50670-901, PE, Brazil
Maria Carolina Accioly Brelaz de Castro
Laboratório de Parasitologia e Laboratório de Imunologia IAM, Centro Acadêmico de Vitória, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE), Vitória de Santo Antão 55608-680, PE, Brazil
Edna Mori
Faculdade CECAPE College, São José, Juazeiro do Norte 63024-015, CE, Brazil
Bruna Caroline Gonçalves Vasconcelos de Lacerda
Faculdade CECAPE College, São José, Juazeiro do Norte 63024-015, CE, Brazil
Isaac Moura Araújo
Departamento de Química Biológica, Universidade Regional do Cariri, Crato 63105-010, CE, Brazil
Henrique Douglas Melo Coutinho
Departamento de Química Biológica, Universidade Regional do Cariri, Crato 63105-010, CE, Brazil
Grażyna Kowalska
Department of Tourism and Recreation, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, 15 Akademicka Str., 20-950 Lublin, Poland
Radosław Kowalski
Department of Analysis and Food Quality Assessment, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, 8 Skromna Str., 20-704 Lublin, Poland
Tomasz Baj
Department of Pharmacognosy with Medicinal Plants Garden, Medical University of Lublin, 1 Chodzki Str., 20-093 Lublin, Poland
Rejane Pereira Neves
Departamento de Micologia, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE), Recife 50670-901, PE, Brazil
Yeasts from the Candida parapsilosis complex are clinically relevant due to their high virulence and pathogenicity potential, such as adherence to epithelial cells and emission of filamentous structures, as well as their low susceptibility to antifungals. D-limonene, a natural compound, emerges as a promising alternative with previously described antibacterial, antiparasitic, and antifungal activity; however, its mechanisms of action and antivirulence activity against C. parapsilosis complex species have not been elucidated. Therefore, in the present study, we aimed to evaluate the antifungal and antivirulence action, as well as the mechanism of action of D-limonene against isolates from this complex. D-limonene exhibited relevant antifungal activity against C. parapsilosis complex yeasts, as well as excellent antivirulence activity by inhibiting yeast morphogenesis and adherence to the human epithelium. Furthermore, the apoptotic mechanism induced by this compound, which is not induced by oxidative stress, represents an important target for the development of new antifungal drugs.
