Find in Library

Even though <i>Candida albicans</i> commonly colonizes on most mucosal surfaces including the vaginal and gastrointestinal tract, it can cause candidiasis as an opportunistic infectious fungus. The emergence of resistant <i>Candida</i> strains and the toxicity of anti-fungal agents have encouraged the development of new classes of potential anti-fungal agents. Sclareol, a labdane-type diterpene, showed anti-<i>Candida</i> activity with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 50 μg/mL in 24 h based on a microdilution anti-fungal susceptibility test. Cell membrane permeability with propidium iodide staining and mitochondrial membrane potential with JC-1 staining were increased in <i>C. albicans</i> by treatment of sclareol. Sclareol also suppressed the hyphal formation of <i>C. albicans</i> in both liquid and solid media, and reduced biofilm formation. Taken together, sclareol induces an apoptosis-like cell death against <i>Candida</i> spp. and suppressed biofilm and hyphal formation in <i>C. albicans</i>. Sclareol is of high interest as a novel anti-fungal agent and anti-virulence factor.