Nick The Neomycin Z In Vitro Antifungal Activity Of Experimental Research

ABSTRACTObjective: The incidence of fungal infections has increased greatly because of the frequent use of corticosteroid, immunosuppressant and antibacterial drugs. This incidence is even greater among patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). But, the number of antifungal drugs is limited. Nikkomycin Z is a nucleoside-peptide antibiotic that inhibit chitin synthesis in fungi. Nikkomycin Z is considered as a promising potential antifungal of low toxicity. To investigating the antifungal activity of nikkomycin Z, we conduct in vitro susceptibility testing of nikkomycin Z against Candida albicans and Dermatophytes. At the same time, we observed synergism between nikkomycin Z and the other antifungal drugs. Methods: 1.Refering to document M27-A was published by NCCLS, MIC of nikkomycin Z, fluconazole and terbinafine against Candida albicans were determined by a microbroth dilution method. 2. A checkerboard synergy study was carried out to determine the synergistic action of nikkomycin Z with fluconazole or terbinafine. 3. MIC of nikkomycin Z and terbinafine against Dermatophytes were determined by a improvement agar cylinder method. Results: Nikkomycin Z MIC values ranged from 2 to 64μg/ml for Candida albicans and MIC50 was 8μg/ml. Fluconazole MIC50 was 1μg/ml and terbinafine MIC50 was 32μg/ml. Additive and synergistic interactions between nikkomycin Z and either fluconazole or terbinafine were observed with most strains of Candida albicans. No antagonistic interaction between the drugs was observed. Against Dermatophytes species, nikkomycin Z was ineffective in growth inhibition (MIC>64μg/ml). Terbinafine display a strong activity against Dermatophytes and MIC50 was 0.008μg/ml. Conclusion: Nikkomycin Z shows moderate efficacy against Candida albicans. The activity of nikkomycin Z is inferior than fluconazole and higher than terbinafine. The combinations of nikkomycin Z with fluconazole or terbinafine have synergistic actions against Candida albicans. But, nikkomycin Z has no efficiency against Dermatophytes.