Influences of hyaluronic acid on the anticandidal activities of lysozyme and the peroxidase system.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the fungistatic and fungicidal activity of hyaluronic acid (HA) and the influences of HA on the anticandidal activities of lysozyme and the peroxidase system.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

HA, hen egg-white lysozyme, and the bovine lactoperoxidase system were used. Candida albicans ATCC 10231, 18804, and 11006 strains were used in the experiments. The fungistatic activity of HA was determined by measuring the optical densities of the cultures. The candidacidal activity of HA and the influences of HA on the candidacidal activities of lysozyme and the peroxidase system were determined by comparing the numbers of colony-forming units.

RESULTS

Hyaluronic acid displayed inhibitory effects on the growth of C. albicans, and the inhibitory effects were proportional to HA concentration. HA did not have any measurable candidacidal activity. HA showed inhibitory effects on the candidacidal activities of lysozyme, and the peroxidase system that was proportional to HA concentration. HA at 1.0-2.0 mg ml(-1) almost completely inhibited the candidacidal activities of lysozyme and the peroxidase system.

CONCLUSIONS

Hyaluronic acid possesses fungistatic activity but no candidacidal activity. HA showed inhibitory effects on the candidacidal activities of lysozyme and the peroxidase system.