Cryptococcosis is a potentially fatal fungal disease which has aggrandized with the emergence of AIDS and antifungal resistance. The currently used antifungals lack the broad-spectrum activity and result in several toxicities during long treatment regimens. Thus, the present study aims to evaluate the antifungal activity of cinnamaldehyde against Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii, the etiological agent of the disease. Quantitative and qualitative in vitro fungal susceptibilities were carried out by minimum inhibitory concentration assay, flow cytometric analysis, and confocal microscopy. Micromorphological alterations were studied through scanning electron and light microscopies. "In vivo" antifungal efficacy of cinnamaldehyde was assessed. Cinnamaldehyde showed antifungal activity against C. neoformans in a dose-dependent manner. A concentration of 1.37 mg/mL of cinnamaldehyde was found to be inhibitory and fungicidal while the low concentration (0.68 mg/mL) was found to induce micromorphological changes and formation of giant/titan-like cells in this pathogen. The reparative activity of cinnamaldehyde and its ability to prolong the life even after the advent of cryptococcal meningitis in mice was also noticed. This study suggests potent anti-cryptococcal activity of cinnamaldehyde. Though, it has a couple of limitations like allergy and low bioavailability. However, these problems can be circumvented by developing suitable analogs of the compound. It, therefore, could be used as a therapeutic option against cryptococcosis and cryptococcal meningitis. Moreover, the evaluation of its pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties is desirable.
- MeSH
- akrolein analogy a deriváty farmakologie MeSH
- analýza přežití MeSH
- antifungální látky farmakologie MeSH
- Cryptococcus neoformans účinky léků MeSH
- fungální léková rezistence účinky léků MeSH
- játra patologie MeSH
- kryptokokóza farmakoterapie mikrobiologie patologie MeSH
- mikrobiální testy citlivosti MeSH
- modely nemocí na zvířatech MeSH
- mozek patologie MeSH
- mykózy farmakoterapie MeSH
- myši MeSH
- plíce patologie MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- myši MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
From 1952 to 2005, 13 cases of cryptococcosis confirmed by postmortem examination were diagnosed in autopsy material from the University Hospital in Hradec Králové, the Czech Republic. Histologically, Cryptococcus was found in multiple organs (brain and spinal cord, lungs, lymph nodes, spleen, bone marrow, liver, kidneys and adrenal glands). The lungs and CNS were the organs most often involved. Only in two cases was the diagnosis of cryptococcal infection established during the patient's lifetime, in both presenting clinically as meningitis, with positive result of CSF cultivation. Data and issues of diagnostics and treatment of cryptococcosis are discussed.
- MeSH
- Cryptococcus neoformans izolace a purifikace MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- fagocytóza MeSH
- financování organizované MeSH
- kryptokokóza patologie MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- příčina smrti MeSH
- retrospektivní studie MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- Check Tag
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Česká republika MeSH
- MeSH
- kryptokokóza epidemiologie patologie MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
