Synergistic Effect Of Chelerythrine On Econazole Nitrate Against Candida Albicans

Candida albicans（C.albicans）, is a major fungal pathogen responsible for causing a variety ofcandidiasis. It is the fourth leading cause of nosocomial infections, with a mortality rate approaching50%.Recently, prevention and treatment of C. albicans infection has become hard to be solved because of themultidrug resistance. Chelerythrine (CHT), one of the more important benzophenanthridine alkaloids derivedfrom the roots of chinese traditional medicinal plant chelidonium majus, has been shown to have variousbiological activities, including antimicrobial, antiplatelet, and antitumor activities. Here, we examed the effectof chelerythrine and econazole nitrate (ECZN) against C. albicans for the sake of provide a new strategy andoffer experimental basis for the prevention and treatment of persistent superficial mycosis.This study was performanced using the broth microdilution method in accordance with CLSI M27-Aprogram. Further time-killing curve study was carried out to verify its effectiveness. The results showed thatthe CHT-ECZN combination markedly activity against C. albicans. And the FICI values were from0.078125to0.5. All tested strains were revealed synergism. Then a96-well flat-bottom microtitration plate was used todevelop standardized24-hour candida biofilms, which were then quantified using the crystal violet (CV)method. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and synergistic effectiveness were determined by themicrodilution method and checkerboard assays, respectively. Additionally, FICI was calculated. A synergisticanti-biofilm activity was observed with the combination of these two agents.Therefore, it was revealed that chelerythrine weakens the ability of Candida albicans to survive exposureto econazole-nitrate both in suspensionin and in the biofilm.