Glabridin triggers over-expression of apoptosis inducing factor (AIF) gene in Candida albicans.

ABSTRACT: Background and Purpose:Candida albicans is a prevalent human fungal pathogen that can cause a wide spectrum of diseases, from superficial mucosal infections to systemic disorders, in patients with impaired immunity. Glabridin is a pyranoisoflavan originally extracted from root extract of Glycyrrhiza glabra. Glabridin can also mediate apoptosis in yeast cells by changing the mitochondrial membrane potential, activation of caspase-like proteases, and DNA cleavage. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism of action of glabridin in C. albicans. Materials and Methods:Candida albicans ATCC14053 was applied as the standard strain. Total RNA was extracted from the isolate under glabridin-treated and untreated conditions. To evaluate the alternations in the apoptosis inducing factor (AIF) gene expression, real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time -PCR) was performed, and the obtained data were analyzed using REST software. Results:Expression of the AIF gene was represented as the ratio of expression relative to the reference gene. According to the REST® output, the expression of the AIF gene increased significantly (P<0.05) under the glabridin-treated condition. Conclusion:Our results suggested that glabridin may induce apoptosis through the caspase-independent route and might be considered as an anti-Candida agent.

SUBMITTER: Moazeni M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6315205 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature