Study of natural compounds with antifungal activity to elucidate the action mechanism

Abstract

Trichophyton rubrum (T. rubrum) is the main etiological agent of dermatophytosis in the world. Despite the increased incidence of fungal infections, there are few drugs on the market and their targets are limited because of cell similarities shared between fungi and mammalian. The search for new antifungals of natural origin with new targets is increasing due to an increase in the frequency of infectious diseases, as well as multiple drug resistance (MDR). The objective of this project is to evaluate the antifungal activity against T.rubrum of some natural products: trans chalcone, licochalcone, apigenin, itaconic acid, rosmarinic acid, caffeic acid (the active product of propolis), and purified glycoalkaloids of Solanum lycocarpum. Thereafter, we have the prospect to elucidate the mechanisms of action of compounds that showed potential biological activity using molecular (gene expression by microarray, real time PCR or array) and cellular assays (morphologic changes in membrane damage, quantification of ergosterol and protoplast regeneration). (AU)