Antibiofilm Potential of Medicinal Plants against Candida spp. Oral Biofilms: A Review

Abstract

The use of natural products to promote health is as old as human civilization. In recent years, the perception of natural products derived from plants as abundant sources of biologically active compounds has driven their exploitation towards the search for new chemical products that can lead to further pharmaceutical formulations. Candida fungi, being opportunistic pathogens, increase their virulence by acquiring resistance to conventional antimicrobials, triggering diseases, especially in immunosuppressed hosts. They are also pointed to as the main pathogens responsible for most fungal infections of the oral cavity. This increased resistance to conventional synthetic antimicrobials has driven the search for new molecules present in plant extracts, which have been widely explored as alternative agents in the prevention and treatment of infections. This review aims to provide a critical view and scope of the in vitro antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity of several medicinal plants, revealing species with inhibition/reduction effects on the biofilm formed by Candida spp. in the oral cavity. The most promising plant extracts in fighting oral biofilm, given their high capacity to reduce it to low concentrations were the essential oils extracted from Allium sativum L., Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume. and Cymbopogon citratus (DC) Stapf.

Boswellia serrata Extract as an Antibiofilm Agent against Candida spp.

“…such as C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis, C. krusei and C. auris, which are increasingly common causes of nosocomial diseases [80,81]. It is clear from the reviews published in 2021 that the effective concentrations of various plant extracts or essential oils for inhibiting biofilm formation are in multiples of the MIC for suspension cells [57,75,82,83]. Nor do multiple MIC concentrations inhibit biofilm formation by 100%.…”

Essential Oils in Respiratory Mycosis: A Review

“…Nevertheless, Candida albicans, C. glabrata, C. tropicalis, C. parapsilosis and C. krusei have been pointed out as the most prevalent strains in invasive candidiasis. Since several reviews have largely covered the antifungal potential of essential oils on these pathogens [68][69][70][71][72], we now focus on a once considered rare species, Candida auris, that is currently emerging as a major pathogen in certain parts of the world. C. auris infections are difficult to treat as this pathogen does not respond to conventional antifungal drugs.…”

Antimicrobial, Antivirulence, and Antiparasitic Potential of Capsicum chinense Jacq. Extracts and Their Isolated Compound Capsaicin

“…Microorganisms can form biofilms, one of their main defense mechanisms—biofilms make microorganism removal from biotic and abiotic surfaces difficult. They prevent contact between the matrix’s antifungal agents and microbial cells [ 5 ]. Production of these virulence factors, associated with indiscriminate use of antimicrobials, has raised the number of infections by resistant fungal isolates, thereby limiting therapeutic options and increasing mortality rates [ 3 ].…”