Ricerc@Sapienza

Candida albicans biofilm is associated with high rates of morbidity and resistance to antifungals. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the anti-Candida albicans biofilm activity of some indigenous Algerian medicinal plant extracts: Clematis flammula and Fraxinus angustifolia and their influence on the virulence factors of C. albicans. The anti-biofilm activity was determined using crystal violet assay while the cell surface hydrophobicity (CSH) was estimated in a water-hydrocarbon two-phase assay. Moreover, germ tube formation and hyphae elongation were assessed microscopically. F. angustifolia leaves and bark, as well as C. flammula leaves extracts (500 μg/mL) showed an inhibition of biofilm formation of 62.41 ± 3.88, 54.83 ± 0.98 and 36.78 ± 1.09%, respectively, probably related to a disruption of CSH, germ tube and hyphae formation of C. albicans ATCC 10231 (p<0.001). Phytochemical analysis revealed that the plant extracts were a rich source of phenolic compounds with the highest content found in F. angustifolia leaves (173.05 ± 0.15 mg gallic acid equivalent per gram of extract), which could explain its highest efficiency against biofilm activity. Considering the results obtained, it can be concluded that the plants tested could be a promising source of drugs against muco-cutaneous infections caused by C. albicans biofilm.