Phytochemical characterization of the Ziziphus joazeiro Mart. metabolites by UPLC-QTOF and antifungal activity evaluation

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the antifungal and modulatory potential of the Ziziphus joazeiro bark and leaf extracts, both in isolation and in association with fluconazole, against resistant species from the Candida genus. Antifungal assays were used to determine the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC 50 ) of the extract in isolation and in combination with fluconazole using the broth microdilution method and spectrophotometric readings, followed by verification of the minimum fungicidal concentration by solid medium subculture. According to the cell viability curve, both extracts inhibited fungal growth in a concentration dependent manner, in addition to showing inhibitory concentrations similar to fluconazole. However, the extracts behaved in a fungistatic manner with minimum inhibitory concentration > 8.19 mg/mL and IC 50 values ranging from 0.450 mg/mL to 9 mg/mL. The minimum inhibitory concentration for both extracts decreased when in combination with fluconazole, with the AEL standing out against Candida albicans URM 4387, displaying an IC 50 equal to that of fluconazole (0.002 mg/mL). Nevertheless, fluconazole antagonism was observed against the tested strains. Overall, the evaluation of both extracts against Candida spp. presented inhibitory concentration values greater than fluconazole. Moreover, despite these being chemically complex crude extracts, they did demonstrate antifungal effects and properties that concur with their ethno-biological aspect.

Enhancing the Antifungal Efficacy of Fluconazole with a Diterpene: Abietic Acid as a Promising Adjuvant to Combat Antifungal Resistance in Candida spp.

“…All tests were performed in quadruplicate. The plates were incubated at 37 • C for 24 h, and the readings were performed as described above [65][66][67][68].…”

Chemical constituents and antifungal potential of Attalea geraensis Barb. Rodr. (Arecaceae) palm leaves, a species native to the Cerrado of Brazil

“…Among the natural compounds with antifungal action, plant extracts, such as that from the palm tree Attalea, a genus of the family Arecaceae, can be used. These plants are rich in phenolic compounds, including flavonoids, which are promising metabolites due to their antifungal properties (Williams et al, 1985;Andrade et al, 2020;Mohammed and Fouad, 2022).…”

UHPLC-ESI-Orbitrap-HR-MS Analysis of Cyclopeptide Alkaloids From Ziziphus joazeiro

“…[4][5][6] Phytochemical investigations led to the isolation and identification of several compounds, especially triterpenes (lupane-, ceanothane-and dammarane-type), flavonoids and phenolic derivatives. [5][6][7][8][9] Despite the high number of phytochemical studies with Z. joazeiro, there are only few studies describing the isolation and structural elucidation of cyclopeptide alkaloids from this species (nummularine-K, zoazerine and nummularine-M). 10,11 Triggered by the widespread use of Z. joazeiro and following up on our earlier analytical and synthetic work on such ansa-type cyclopeptide alkaloids from Rhamnaceae and Ziziphus spp.…”

“…Its leaves and stem-bark are used in folk medicine against fever, bacterial and fungal infections, chronic bronchitis, and gingivitis, while its stem is used to treat fungal mouth infection, flu and tooth decay. [4][5][6] Phytochemical investigations led to the isolation and identification of several compounds, especially triterpenes (lupane-, ceanothane-and dammarane-type), flavonoids and phenolic derivatives. [5][6][7][8][9] Despite the high number of phytochemical studies with Z. joazeiro, there are only few studies describing the isolation and structural elucidation of cyclopeptide alkaloids from this species (nummularine-K, zoazerine and nummularine-M).…”