Shahrzad Shaygan
1, Alireza Khodavandi
1* 
1 Department of Biology, Gachsaran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Gachsaran, Iran
Abstract
Introduction:
Fluconazole-resistant Candida albicans
is one of the biggest problems faced in clinical practice. Using of natural
pure compounds such as menthol could be one of the most frequently ways to solve
this problem. The aims of this study were to investigate the hypha formation
and gene expression profiling of fluconazole-resistant C. albicans treated
by menthol.
Methods:
Colonizing vaginal isolates of C. albicans were recognized and
fluconazole-resistant detected by WHONET software. The relative MICs of menthol
were determined by broth microdilution for fluconazole-resistant isolates. The potency
of menthol to inhibit hypha formation exploited
using a light microscopy. Finally, the expression of SAP1 was measured
using quantitative Real Time RT- PCR.
Results: Out of colonizing
vaginal isolates of C. albicans, 100% were found to be
fluconazol-resistant. MIC90 for
menthol was reported in fluconazol-resistant isolates at 1.6 to 25 μg/mL. Additionally,
all isolates treated with menthol showed the significant reduction in hyphae
and number of planktonic cells. Furthermore, the expression levels of SAP1 were increased by 1.53-
and 1.43-fold at concentrations of 2 × MIC and 1 × MIC, respectively, in the fluconazol-resistance C. albicans cells treated with fluconazol. While, treatment with menthol was down regulated
of SAP1 expression by 2.02- and 1.85-fold at concentrations
of 2 × MIC and 1 × MIC, respectively (P ≤ 0.05).
Conclusion: These
findings suggest that menthol could has potential applications in the treatment
of infections due to fluconazole-resistance C. albicans. In addition, SAP1 could be probable molecular target of menthol in C. albicans.