Antifungal activity of coronarin D against Candida albicans.

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to investigate the antifungal activity of coronarin D on Candida albicans and its activity was compared with clotrimazole and nystatin. METHODS Coronarin D was extracted by liquid chromatography and used in antifungal testing. The inhibitory effect of coronarin D on C. albicans was determined by cultures and an applied broth dilution test. The rate of fungicidal activity was evaluated by time-kill curves. Morphologic alterations of fungal cells were investigated using scanning electron microscopy. RESULTS Coronarin D was effective against C. albicans; the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) were 2 and 4 mg/mL, respectively. The C. albicans killing activity of coronarin D was higher than clotrimazole and nystatin at 2 × MFC and 4 × MFC, respectively. Morphologic alterations of fungal cells consistent with cell membrane damage were observed in the coronarin D-treated cells. CONCLUSIONS Coronarin D showed promising antifungal activity against C. albicans in vitro.