Growth inhibitory response and ultrastructural modification of oral-associated candidal reference strains (ATCC) by Piper betle L. extract

• Published in: International journal of oral science Vol. 6; no. 1; pp. 15 - 21
• Main Authors: Nordin, Mohd-Al-Faisal, Wan Harun, Wan Himratul-Aznita, Abdul Razak, Fathilah, Musa, Md Yusoff
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 01-03-2014; Springer Nature B.V; Department of 0ral Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia%Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: Antifungal Agents - pharmacology; Candida - drug effects; Candida - growth & development; Candida - ultrastructure; Candida albicans - drug effects; Candida albicans - growth & development; Candida albicans - ultrastructure; Candida glabrata - drug effects; Candida glabrata - growth & development; Candida glabrata - ultrastructure; Candida tropicalis - drug effects; Candida tropicalis - growth & development; Candida tropicalis - ultrastructure; Chromatography, Liquid - methods; Colony Count, Microbial; Culture Media; Dentistry; Eugenol - analogs & derivatives; Eugenol - analysis; Humans; Hydroxybenzoates - analysis; Medicine; Microbial Viability - drug effects; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Mouth - microbiology; Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery; Original; original-article; Orthopedics; Phytotherapy; Piper betle - chemistry; Plant Extracts - analysis; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Spectrophotometry - methods; Surgical Orthopedics; Tandem Mass Spectrometry - methods; Time Factors; cell morphology; L; antifungal activity; growth inhibitory effect; Piper betle L; Candida
• ISSN: 1674-2818; 2049-3169
• DOI: 10.1038/ijos.2013.97

Candida
species have been associated with the emergence of strains resistant to selected antifungal agents. Plant products have been used traditionally as alternative medicine to ease mucosal fungal infections. This study aimed to investigate the effects of
Piper betle
extract on the growth profile and the ultrastructure of commonly isolated oral candidal cells. The major component of
P. betle
was identified using liquid chromatography-mass spectrophotometry (LC-MS/MS). Seven ATCC control strains of
Candida
species were cultured in yeast peptone dextrose broth under four different growth environments: (i) in the absence of
P. betle
extract; and in the presence of
P. betle
extract at respective concentrations of (ii) 1 mg⋅mL
−1
; (iii) 3 mg⋅mL
−1
; and (iv) 6 mg⋅mL
−1
. The growth inhibitory responses of the candidal cells were determined based on changes in the specific growth rates (
µ
). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to observe any ultrastructural alterations in the candida colonies. LC-MS/MS was performed to validate the presence of bioactive compounds in the extract. Following treatment, it was observed that the
µ
-values of the treated cells were significantly different than those of the untreated cells (
P
<0.05), indicating the fungistatic properties of the
P. betle
extract. The candidal population was also reduced from an average of 13.44×10
6
to 1.78×10
6
viable cell counts (CFU)⋅mL
−1
. SEM examination exhibited physical damage and considerable morphological alterations of the treated cells. The compound profile from LC-MS/MS indicated the presence of hydroxybenzoic acid, chavibetol and hydroxychavicol in
P. betle
extract. The effects of
P. betle
on candida cells could potentiate its antifungal activity.
Oral disease: Plant power reins in yeast infections
An extract from the tropical vine plant
Piper betle
can combat
Candida
yeast infections, according to researchers in Malaysia.
Candida
species are natural components of the flora in the oral cavity, but may cause infections when the immune system fails. Also, some
Candida
strains have become resistant to antifungal medicines. Inspired by the effectiveness of some popular natural medicines, Mohd-Al-Faisal Nordin and co-workers at the University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur tested the antifungal properties of
Piper betle
, a member of the pepper family that is used to treat asthma, halitosis and other conditions. After adding
Piper betle
extract to
Candida
cell cultures, the researchers saw strongly reduced
Candida
populations and damaged
Candida
cells. These results point to the potential use of
Piper betle
in future oral healthcare products.