Study of the antifungal activity of ibuprofen and its association with amphotericin B or ketoconazole against Candida spp.

Paula Mariane Silva Sousa,Jefferson Rodrigues Nóbrega,Francisco Patricio De Andrade Júnio,Wylly Araújo De Oliveira,Laísa Vilar Cordeiro

doi:10.15446/rcciquifa.v49n2.89516

Abstract

The objective was evaluating the antifungal activity of ibuprofen alone and when associated with amphotericin B or ketoconazole against Candida species. Strains of C. albicans, C. tropicalis, C. guilliermondii, C. krusei and C. parapsilosis were used. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined by the microdilution method and the association study performed through the checkerboard assay. The concentration of 512 µg/mL inhibited approximately 65% of the tested strains, while against 35% of the strains presented MIC values above 2048 µg/mL. Associations of ibuprofen with amphotericin B against C. tropicalis and ibuprofen with ketoconazole against C. krusei showed synergistic effect. Antagonistic effects were evidenced in the combination of ibuprofen with amphotericin B against C. guilliermondii and C. albicans, as well as in the association of ibuprofen with ketoconazole against C. albicans and C. tropicalis. Through the experiments, it was found that ibuprofen showed antifungal activity against most of the Candida species tested. The combinations of ibuprofen and antifungals had synergistic effects. However, antagonistic results were evidenced in the association with ibuprofen, which would make clinical applicability difficult. Therefore, studies of this combined activity should be investigated, considering that this association may be positive for antifungal therapy.

Highlights

Candida species are commensal fungi that live on the skin and the oral, vaginal and intestinal mucous membranes of the human body
The most prevalent species of this genus involved in invasive fungal infections is C. albicans, infections caused by non-albicans species have increased significantly, further raising a worrying scenario because such infections are often more severe, rapidly progressive, treatment-refractory and associated the highest mortality and morbidity [1, 4]
The low number of antifungal drugs available, the high rates of resistant microorganisms, as well as the inherent toxicity of these drugs have underlined the importance for researching new strategies that lead to effective treatments for the control of fungal infections [6, 7]

Summary

Introduction

Candida species are commensal fungi that live on the skin and the oral, vaginal and intestinal mucous membranes of the human body. The low number of antifungal drugs available, the high rates of resistant microorganisms, as well as the inherent toxicity of these drugs have underlined the importance for researching new strategies that lead to effective treatments for the control of fungal infections [6, 7]. With this propose, recent studies have focused on the association between conventional non-antifungal pharmacological agents and conventional antifungal agents [8,9,10,11,12]

Methods

Results

Conclusion