Abstract

IN VITRO ANTIFUNGAL AND ANTIBIOFILM POTENTIAL OF ASCORBIC ACID AGAINST CANDIDA ALBICANS AND ITS MIXED CULTURE WITH BACTERIA

*Anuya Aparna Rege, Dipti Bhushan Kolte and Disha Thakur

ABSTRACT

The resistance of Candida albicans to antifungal agents has been attributed to formation of biofilms which can occur on mucosa as well as on medical devices. The discovery of effective natural product with antibiofilm activity will substantially impact management of C. albicans infections as well as other related bacterial infections. Ascorbic acid could be a possible candidate for eradication of biofilms. Hence, in the present in vitro study, antifungal and antibiofilm activities of Ascorbic acid were evaluated against 2 fungi as well as against combination of C. albicans with Mixed bacteria (C. albicans + Mixed Bacteria) using various assays such as MIC, MBC/MFC, Agar Well Diffusion Method, Time Course study and Antibiofilm assay. Ascorbic Acid did not show any inhibitory effect against A. niger. However, Antibiofilm effect of Ascorbic Acid against C. albicans and its Mixed Culture was observed at 370 C as well as at RT (200 C) and itwas found to be concentration dependent. Furthermore, combination of Ascorbic Acid + Fluconazole revealed synergistic effect against Biofilms of C. albicans and its Mixed Culture. Moreover, the Time Course Study with Ascorbic Acid revealed inhibition of C. albicans and its Mixed Culture around 48 hours and 6 hours respectively. In general, Ascorbic Acid has revealed Antifungal and Antibiofilm potential against mono as well as polymicrobial culture in present in vitro study. Besides, our previous studies have revealed broad spectrum Antibacterial and Antibiofilm effects of Ascorbic acid inhibiting Gram Positive and Gram Negative Standard Strains as well as Gram Negative Clinical Isolates. Consequently, Ascorbic Acid exemplifies a promising source of effective, cheap and safe Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm agent.

Keywords: Ascorbic Acid, Antimicrobial, Antibiofilm, Natural Products, Biofilm Assay, Antifungal, Mixed Culture.