Opposite effects of vitamin C and vitamin E on the antifungal activity of honokiol

J Microbiol Biotechnol. 2019 Apr 28;29(4):538-547. doi: 10.4014/jmb.1901.01012.

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of two well-known natural antioxidants vitamin C (VC) and vitamin E (VE) on the antifungal activity of honokiol against Candida albicans. The broth microdilution method was employed to test the antifungal activities of honokiol with or without antioxidants in the medium against C. albicans strain. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation were determined by fluorescence staining assay. Mitochondrial dysfunction was assessed by detecting the mitochondrial DNA and the mitochondrial membrane potential. We observed that VC could significantly potentiate the antifungal activities of honokiol while VE reduced the effectiveness of honokiol against C. albicans. In addition, VC accelerated honokiol-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and inhibited glycolysis leading to a decrease in cellular ATP. However, VE could protect against mitochondrial membrane lipid peroxidation and rescue mitochondrial function after honokiol treatment. Our research provides new insight into the understanding of the action mechanism of honokiol and VC combination against C. albicans.

Keywords: Candida albicans; antioxidant; glycolysis; honokiol; oxidative stress.

MeSH terms

  • Antifungal Agents / pharmacology*
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology
  • Ascorbic Acid / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Biphenyl Compounds / pharmacology*
  • Candida albicans / cytology
  • Candida albicans / drug effects*
  • DNA, Mitochondrial / drug effects
  • DNA, Mitochondrial / isolation & purification
  • Drug Antagonism*
  • Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (Phosphorylating) / metabolism
  • Glycolysis / drug effects
  • Lignans / pharmacology*
  • Lipid Peroxidation / drug effects
  • Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / drug effects
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Mitochondria / drug effects
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • Vitamin E / antagonists & inhibitors*

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • Antioxidants
  • Biphenyl Compounds
  • DNA, Mitochondrial
  • Lignans
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • honokiol
  • Vitamin E
  • Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (Phosphorylating)
  • Ascorbic Acid