Open AccessIn vitro and in silico analysis reveals antifungal activity and potential targets of curcumin on Paracoccidioides spp.
Author(s) -
Olívia Basso Rocha,
Lívia do Carmo Silva,
Marcos Antonio Batista de Carvalho Júnior,
Amanda Alves de Oliveira,
Célia Maria de Almeida Soares,
Maristela Pereira
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
brazilian journal of microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1678-4405
pISSN - 1517-8382
DOI - 10.1007/s42770-021-00548-6
Subject(s) - curcumin , curcuma , chemistry , pharmacology , catalase , superoxide dismutase , paracoccidioidomycosis , itraconazole , in silico , reactive oxygen species , in vitro , paracoccidioides brasiliensis , biochemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , antifungal , traditional medicine , medicine , enzyme , gene
The search for new compounds with activity against Paracoccidioides, etiologic agents of Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), is extremely necessary due to the current scenario of the available therapeutic arsenal. Treatment is restricted to three classes of antifungals with side effects. Curcumin is a polyphenol with antifungal effects that is extracted from Curcuma longa. The present work aimed to evaluate the activity of curcumin in different species of Paracoccidioides and to evaluate the potential molecular targets of curcumin using computational strategies. In addition, interactions with classic antifungals used in the treatment of PCM were evaluated. Curcumin inhibits the growth of Paracoccidioides spp. exerting a fungicidal effect. The combination of curcumin with amphotericin B, co-trimoxazole, and itraconazole showed a synergistic or additive interaction. Molecular targets as superoxide dismutase, catalase, and isocitrate lyase were proposed based on in silico approaches. Curcumin affects the fungal plasma membrane and increases the production of reactive oxygen species. Therefore, curcumin is a good alternative for the treatment of PCM.