Antifungal efficacy of caffeic acid and nano-caffeic acid particles against candidiasis: an in vitro study.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Candidiasis is the most common oral fungal infection. Several medications have been introduced to manage this infection. This study investigated the antifungal effect of caffeic acid and nano-caffeic acid.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

The size and particle dispersion index (PDI) of caffeic acid-containing niosome vesicles were measured after their production. The zeta potential was measured using a Zetasizer Nano ZS, and the amount of nano-caffeic acid released from the vesicles was measured. Candida isolates were cultured in Malt Extract Agar medium. Nystatin, fluconazole, caffeic acid and nano-caffeic acid were studied according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) protocol (M27-A3/S4), a broth microdilution test was performed, and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined. The data were analyzed using the Mann‒Whitney and Kruskal‒Wallis tests.

RESULTS

The optimal formulation had 100 mg Tween 60, 100 mg Span 60, 200 mg cholesterol, a size of 271.83 ± 3.11 nm, a PDI of 0.21 ± 0.02, a zeta potential of 5.58 ± 0.47 mV and an encapsulation efficiency (EE%) of 42.34 ± 4.34%. The size, absolute zeta potential and EE% increased significantly with increasing cholesterol content from zero to 200  mg (P < 0.05). Caffeic acid, nano-caffeic acid, carrier, fluconazole and nystatin had the lowest to highest antifungal activity, respectively.

CONCLUSION

According to the MIC50 and MIC90 values, nystatin, fluconazole, carrier, nano-caffeic acid and caffeic acid had the highest to lowest inhibitory efficiency against Candida species, respectively.