Inhibits Cell Wall Synthesis and Triggers Membrane Depolarization in .

Fungal cell walls and cell membranes are the main targets of antifungals. In this study, we report on the antifungal activity of an ethanol extract from against , showing that the antifungal activity is associated with the synergistic actions of preventing cell wall synthesis, enabling membrane depolarization, and compromising permeability. First, it was shown that the ethanol extract from was involved in damaging the integrity of cell walls in . In isotonic media, cell bursts of by the ethanol extract could be restored, and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the ethanol extract against cells increased 4-fold. In addition, synthesis of (1,3)-β--glucan polymer was inhibited by 87% and 83% following treatment of microsomes with the ethanol extract at their 1× MIC and 2× MIC, respectively. Second, the ethanol extract from influenced the function of cell membranes. cells treated with the ethanol extract formed red aggregates by staining with a membrane-impermeable dye, propidium iodide. Membrane depolarization manifested as increased fluorescence intensity by staining -treated cells with a membrane-potential marker, DiBAC(3) ((-1,3-dibutylbarbituric acid) trimethine oxonol). Membrane permeability was assessed by crystal violet assay, and cells treated with the ethanol extract exhibited significant uptake of crystal violet in a concentration-dependent manner. The findings suggest that ethanol extract is a viable and effective candidate for the development of new antifungal agents to treat -associated diseases.