Novel antifungal activity of purpurin against Candida species in vitro

Authors

Kai Kang, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Wing Ping Fong, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Wai Kei Paul Tsang, Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong, Vocational Training CouncilFollow

Staff Page link

Dr TSANG Wai Kei Paul

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

2010

Keywords

Candida, Efflux pumps, In vitro susceptibility, Mitochondrial membrane potential, Purpurin

DOI

10.3109/13693781003739351

Abstract

The antifungal activity of purpurin (1,2,4-trihydroxy-9,10-anthraquinone), a natural red anthraquinone pigment in madder root (Rubia tinctorum L.), was evaluated by a broth microdilution assay against a total of 24 Candida isolates representing six species. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) range of purpurin was 1.285.12 μg/ml. Mechanistic studies using the rhodamine 6G extrusion assay indicated that purpurin inhibited the energy-dependent efflux pumps of the Candida isolates in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, purpurin demonstrated a dose-dependent depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential, one of the biochemical checkpoints regulating cell death in eukaryotic cells, suggesting a possible linkage between purpurin antifungal mechanism and Candida apoptosis.

Source Publication

Medical Mycology

Volume Number

48

Issue Number

7

ISSN

1369-3786

First Page

904

Last Page

911

Recommended Citation

Kang, K.,Fong, W.,& Tsang, W. (2010). Novel antifungal activity of purpurin against Candida species in vitro. Medical Mycology, 48 (7), 904-911. http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/13693781003739351