The Antifungal Effects of Equol Against <i>Candida albicans</i> Involve Mitochondrial Dysfunction
Novel antifungal agents are urgently needed because of the increasing number of drug-resistant <i>Candida</i> strains encountered in clinical practice and the limited variety of available antifungal drugs. Equol, a metabolite of soy isoflavone glycosides, exhibits antifungal activities....
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MDPI AG
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Journal of Fungi |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/11/5/339 |
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| author | Anni Ge Hao Zhou Xi Yang Chunling Zhao Caiyan Xin Zhangyong Song |
| author_facet | Anni Ge Hao Zhou Xi Yang Chunling Zhao Caiyan Xin Zhangyong Song |
| author_sort | Anni Ge |
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| description | Novel antifungal agents are urgently needed because of the increasing number of drug-resistant <i>Candida</i> strains encountered in clinical practice and the limited variety of available antifungal drugs. Equol, a metabolite of soy isoflavone glycosides, exhibits antifungal activities. In this study, Equol had good inhibitory activity against <i>Candida</i> species. The lowest inhibitory concentration of 125–500 μg/mL was confirmed by the gradient dilution method. In addition, transmission electron microscopy and the relative content assay showed that Equol altered the cell wall and membrane of <i>Candida albicans</i>. Further studies found that Equol treatment increased the intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species and Ca<sup>2+</sup>. Subsequent experiments suggested that Equol treatment depolarized the membrane potential of <i>C. albicans</i> and up-regulated the expression of the apoptosis-inducing factor gene. These results confirmed that Equol damaged the cell wall and membrane, dysregulated the intracellular components, induced oxidative stress and Ca<sup>2+</sup> accumulation, and ultimately resulted in mitochondrial dysfunction. Collectively, these findings demonstrated that Equol is a potential antifungal agent. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-291d305059d749d39e46acb091eef621 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2309-608X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Journal of Fungi |
| spelling | doaj-art-291d305059d749d39e46acb091eef6212025-08-20T02:33:57ZengMDPI AGJournal of Fungi2309-608X2025-04-0111533910.3390/jof11050339The Antifungal Effects of Equol Against <i>Candida albicans</i> Involve Mitochondrial DysfunctionAnni Ge0Hao Zhou1Xi Yang2Chunling Zhao3Caiyan Xin4Zhangyong Song5School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, ChinaSchool of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, ChinaSchool of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, ChinaSchool of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, ChinaSchool of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, ChinaSchool of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, ChinaNovel antifungal agents are urgently needed because of the increasing number of drug-resistant <i>Candida</i> strains encountered in clinical practice and the limited variety of available antifungal drugs. Equol, a metabolite of soy isoflavone glycosides, exhibits antifungal activities. In this study, Equol had good inhibitory activity against <i>Candida</i> species. The lowest inhibitory concentration of 125–500 μg/mL was confirmed by the gradient dilution method. In addition, transmission electron microscopy and the relative content assay showed that Equol altered the cell wall and membrane of <i>Candida albicans</i>. Further studies found that Equol treatment increased the intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species and Ca<sup>2+</sup>. Subsequent experiments suggested that Equol treatment depolarized the membrane potential of <i>C. albicans</i> and up-regulated the expression of the apoptosis-inducing factor gene. These results confirmed that Equol damaged the cell wall and membrane, dysregulated the intracellular components, induced oxidative stress and Ca<sup>2+</sup> accumulation, and ultimately resulted in mitochondrial dysfunction. Collectively, these findings demonstrated that Equol is a potential antifungal agent.https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/11/5/339<i>Candida albicans</i>Equolantifungal agentcell wallcell membranemitochondrial dysfunction |
| spellingShingle | Anni Ge Hao Zhou Xi Yang Chunling Zhao Caiyan Xin Zhangyong Song The Antifungal Effects of Equol Against <i>Candida albicans</i> Involve Mitochondrial Dysfunction Journal of Fungi <i>Candida albicans</i> Equol antifungal agent cell wall cell membrane mitochondrial dysfunction |
| title | The Antifungal Effects of Equol Against <i>Candida albicans</i> Involve Mitochondrial Dysfunction |
| title_full | The Antifungal Effects of Equol Against <i>Candida albicans</i> Involve Mitochondrial Dysfunction |
| title_fullStr | The Antifungal Effects of Equol Against <i>Candida albicans</i> Involve Mitochondrial Dysfunction |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Antifungal Effects of Equol Against <i>Candida albicans</i> Involve Mitochondrial Dysfunction |
| title_short | The Antifungal Effects of Equol Against <i>Candida albicans</i> Involve Mitochondrial Dysfunction |
| title_sort | antifungal effects of equol against i candida albicans i involve mitochondrial dysfunction |
| topic | <i>Candida albicans</i> Equol antifungal agent cell wall cell membrane mitochondrial dysfunction |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/11/5/339 |
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