Boswellia serrata Extract as an Antibiofilm Agent against Candida spp.

Abstract

The use of antibiotics or antifungals to control infections caused by pathogenic microorganisms is currently insufficiently effective because of their emerging resistance. Thanks to the ability of microorganisms to form a biofilm and thus increase their resistance to administered drugs even more, modern medicine faces the task of finding novel substances to combat infections caused by them. In this regard, the effects of essential oils or plant extracts are often studied. Among the relatively neglected plants is Boswellia serrata, which has a high content of biologically active boswellic acids. In this study, we focused on one of the most common nosocomial infections, which are caused by Candida species. The most common representative is C. albicans, although the number of infections caused by non-albicans species has recently been increasing. We focused on the antifungal activity of Boswellia serrata extract Bioswellix against planktonic and adhering cells of Candida albicans, Candida parapsilosis and Candida krusei. The antifungal activity against adhering cells was further explored by determining the metabolic activity of cells (MTT) and determining the total amount of biofilm using crystal violet. Boswellic acid-containing plant extract was shown to suppress the growth of a suspension population of all tested Candida species. Boswellia serrata extract Bioswellix was most effective in inhibiting C. albicans biofilm formation.

Synergistic Effect of Surfactants of Nocardia vaccinii IMV B-7405 and Essential Oils on Candida Genus Yeast

“…Th e increase in the number of such works is due to several factors. Firstly, in people with a weakened immune system, especially against the background of the development of the human immunodefi ciency virus (HIV), cancer chemotherapy, and the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, representatives of Candida genus can cause severe infectious diseases and form biofi lms [14][15][16]. Secondly, clinically important antifungal agents, such as fl uconazole or amphotericin B, fl ucytosine, echinocandins, itraconazole or ketoconazole, are almost ineff ective against pathogens (especially C. albicans), while their concentrations required to reduce the metabolic activity of cells in biofi lms are 5-8 times higher than the corresponding MIC against planktonic forms [17].…”

“…Secondly, clinically important antifungal agents, such as fl uconazole or amphotericin B, fl ucytosine, echinocandins, itraconazole or ketoconazole, are almost ineff ective against pathogens (especially C. albicans), while their concentrations required to reduce the metabolic activity of cells in biofi lms are 5-8 times higher than the corresponding MIC against planktonic forms [17]. Th irdly, due to the multi-component composition (including the presence of phenolic terpenoids), EOs are eff ective antifungal agents, including in the fi ght against biofi lms [15,16]. However, a signifi cant disadvantage of EOs as antimicrobial agents is their high MIC (up to several mg/mL), which can be reduced by using oils in a mixture with surfactants of microbial origin.…”