Premium
An antifungal mechanism of curcumin lies in membrane‐targeted action within C andida albicans
Author(s) -
Lee Wonyoung,
Lee Dong Gun
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
iubmb life
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.132
H-Index - 113
eISSN - 1521-6551
pISSN - 1521-6543
DOI - 10.1002/iub.1326
Subject(s) - curcumin , propidium iodide , chemistry , calcein , candida albicans , mechanism of action , vesicle , membrane permeability , membrane , biochemistry , biophysics , cytosol , intracellular , membrane potential , biology , in vitro , microbiology and biotechnology , apoptosis , enzyme , programmed cell death
The aim of this study is to investigate the antifungal mechanism of curcumin. This polyphenolic compound has been used traditionally in Asia for medicinal, culinary, and other purposes. Although antifungal effect of curcumin has been reported, this is the first study for its mode of action underlying disruption of plasma membrane in Candida albicans . The leakage of potassium ion from the fungal cytosol and dissipation in membrane potential was detected by bis‐(1,3‐dibutylbarbituric acid)trimethine oxonol [DiBAC 4 [3][Baddley, J. W., 2011]] staining. We also investigated an increase in membrane permeability in curcumin‐treated C. albicans with influx of propidium iodide assay. Fluorescence analysis with 1,6‐diphenyl‐1,3,5‐hexatriene supported the membrane‐targeted mechanism of action indicating membrane disruption. On the basis of these results, we studied the effects of curcumin treatment on model membrane to elucidate its antifungal mechanism. Using calcein leakage assays from curcumin‐treated large unilamellar vesicles and giant unilamellar vesicles, we found that curcumin has membrane‐active mechanism inducing leakage of intracellular component through the flappy membrane. Therefore, this study suggests that curcumin exerts antifungal activity via inducing disruption of fungal plasma membrane. © 2014 IUBMB Life, 66(11):780–785, 2014