Antifungal activity of 4-hydroxy-3-(3-methyl-2- butenyl)acetophenone against Candida albicans: evidence for the antifungal mode of action

The main secondary metabolite of Senecio nutans is 4-hydroxy-3-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)acetophenone (4HMBA). The antifungal activity of this compound and three derivatives was assessed using Candida albicans. 4HMBA exhibited the highest antifungal activity among the assayed compounds. The Fractional Inhibitory Concentration (FIC = 0.133) indicated a synergistic fungicidal effect of 4HMBA (5 mg L-1) and fluconazole (FLU) (0.5 mg L-1) against the C. albicans reference strain (ATCC 10231). Microscopy showed that 4HMBA inhibits filamentation and reduces cell wall thickness. Our findings s suggest that 4HMBA is an interesting compound to diminish resistance to commercial fungistatic drugs such as fluconazole ; Fil: Soberon, Jose Rodolfo. National University of Tucuman. Faculty of Biochemistry, Chemistry and Pharmacy. Institute of Physical Chemistry; Argentina. National Council for Scientific and Technical Research; Argentina ; Fil: Lizarraga, Emilio Fernando. National Council for Scientific and Technical Research. Tucumán Scientific and Technological Center. Northwest Institute of Chemistry; Argentina. National University of Tucumán; Argentina ; Fil: Sgariglia, Melina Araceli. National University of Tucumán. Faculty of Biochemistry, Chemistry and Pharmacy; Argentina. National Council for Scientific and Technical Research; Argentina ; Fil: Carrasco Juarez, Marisa B. National University of Tucumán. Faculty of Biochemistry, Chemistry and Pharmacy; Argentina ; Fil: Sampietro, Diego Alejandro. National University of Tucumán. Faculty of Biochemistry, Chemistry and Pharmacy; Argentina. National Council for Scientific and Technical Research; Argentina ; Fil: Ben Altabef, Aida. National Council for Scientific and Technical Research. Tucumán Scientific and Technological Center. Northwest Institute of Chemistry; Argentina. National Council for Scientific and Technical Research; Argentina ; Fil: Catalan, Cesar Atilio Nazareno. National Council for Scientific and Technical Research. Tucumán Scientific and Technological Center. Institute of ...