Inhibitory effects of baicalin in combination with fluconazole against Candida albicans biofilms

YAN Guiming; Shi Gaoxiang; SHAO Jing; WANG Tianming; XIA Dan; WANG Changzhong

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1673-3827.2015.03.005

Abstract：Objective This study aimed to investigate the antifungal activity of baicalin alone or in combination with fluconazole against Candida albicans biofilms and to explore the related mechanism.Methods Checkerboard method was uased to study the in?terrelation of baicalin and fluconazole on C.albicans;Time?kill curve was used to evaluate the effect of baicalin alone and in combina?tion with fluconazole on C.albicans;XTT reduction assay and measurement of biofilm biomass assay were performed to investigate the antibiofilm activity of baicalin alone and in combination with fluconazole;Scanning electron microscopy ( SEM ) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) were used to observe the three?dimensional structure of C.albicans biofilms;Cellular surface hydropho?bicity ( CSH) assay was performed to investigate the effect of baicalin alone and in combination with fluconazole on adherence in C. albicans;Quantitative real time PCR (qRT?PCR) was performed to measure the expression of adhesion and hypal related genes.Re?sults Synergistic effect was showed in anti?biofilm by baicalin in combination with fluconazole,and FICI was between 0.28?0.5;SEM and CLSM showed that baicalin alone and in combination with fluconazole could destruct and resulted in scant or nonexistent bio?films;And expressions of ALS1,ALS3,EAP1,SUN41,CSH1 were significantly downregulated 6%,51%,24%,13%和39% by qRT?PCR.Conclusion Synergistic effect of baicalin in combination with fluconazole on C.albicans biofilm included by influenced the ex?pression of adhesion,CSH controlling genes,and decreased the CSH.