BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Subcutaneous infections caused by present as chronic eumycetomatous manifestations in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent individuals. Serious adverse effects/toxicities from the long-term use of antifungal drugs and antifungal resistance have been reported in patients with infections. The present study aimed to determine the anti- activities of fungal quorum sensing molecule known as tryptophol (TOH) and to develop a TOH-containing emulgel for treating eumycetoma.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

Anti- activities of TOH were determined and compared with voriconazole. Effects of TOH on biofilm formation and human foreskin fibroblast (HFF)-1 cell cytotoxicity were determined. Moreover, TOH-containing emulgel was developed and physical properties, and antifungal activities against eumycetoma were evaluated.

FINDINGS/RESULTS: The minimal concentration of TOH at 100 µM exhibited anti- activities by reducing growth rate, germination rate, and biofilm formation with less cytotoxicity to HFF-1 cells than voriconazole. Further study on the development of an emulgel revealed that TOH-containing emulgel exhibited excellent physical properties including homogeneity, consistency, and stability. Treatment by TOH-containing emulgel significantly reduced subcutaneous mass in a mouse model of eumycetoma. The histopathological assessment showed marked improvement after 14 days of TOH-containing emulgel treatment.

CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS

TOH could be used as an anti-fungal agent against infections. A novel and stable TOH-containing emulgel was developed with excellent anti- activities suggesting the utilization of TOH-containing emulgel as an innovative therapeutic approach in the treatment of eumycetoma.