Background and Purpose:
Candida species constitute an important group of opportunistic fungi, which cause various clinical diseases. Considering the resistance of some
Candida species to conventional antifungal agents, treatment of such cases may be challenging and complicated. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the antifungal activities of
Euphorbia macroclada latex and fluconazole against different
Candida species. Materials and Methods: A total of ۱۵۰
Candida isolates including C. albicans (n=۷۷), C. glabrata (n=۲۸), C. parapsilosis (n=۲۳), C. tropicalis (n=۱۵), C. krusei (n=۴), C. famata (n=۱), C. kefyr (n=۱) and C. inconspicua (n=۱) were included in this study. In vitro antifungal activities of
Euphorbia macroclada latex and fluconazole against these
Candida species were evaluated, according to M۲۷-A۲ protocol on broth macrodilution method by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). Results: Among ۱۵۰
Candida isolates, ۹۸ isolates (۶۵.۳۳%), i.e., C. albicans (n=۴۱), C. glabrata (n=۲۳), C. tropicalis (n=۱۲) and C. parapsilosis (n=۲۲) with minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) ≤ ۸ μg/ml were susceptible to fluconazole. Resistance to fluconazole was noted in ۱۵ isolates, i.e., C. albicans (n=۱۰), C. glabrata (n=۲), C. krusei (n=۱), C. kefyr (n=۱), and C. inconspicua (n=۱), with MICs of ۶۴ µg/ml. The remaining isolates (n=۳۷) including C. albicans (n=۲۶), C. glabrata (n=۳), C. tropicalis (n=۳), C. parapsilosis (n=۱), C. krusei (n=۳) and C. famata (n=۱) with MIC= ۱۶-۳۲ µg/ml showed dose-dependent susceptibility. The latex of
Euphorbia macroclada was able to inhibit the growth of ۳۰ out of ۱۵۰ tested
Candida isolates with MIC range of ۱۲۸-۵۱۲ µg/ml. These isolates were as follows: C. albicans (n=۲), C. glabrata (n=۴), C. parapsilosis (n=۱۹), C. krusei (n=۲) and C. tropicalis (n=۳). Compared to other isolates, higher MIC values were noted for C. albicans and C. glabrata (۵۱۲ µg/ml), respectively. Conclusion: The latex of
Euphorbia macroclada showed notable antifungal activities against some pathogenic
Candida species. Therefore, it can be potentially used as an alternative antifungal agent in future. However, further research is required to identify its active components.