Effect of Jujube Honey on Candida albicans Growth and Biofilm Formation
Al-Ghamdi,..., Mohammad Javed Ansaria, Ahmad . 2013
Some Candida species are found as endosymbionts in most healthy individuals. C. albicans is the most common yeast found on the mucosal membranes of humans including in the oral cavity, esophagus, gastrointestinal tract, urinary bladder and genitalia (1). In immunocompromised individuals, C. albicans has emerged as a true opportunistic pathogen. This yeast adheres to and colonizes epithelial tissues and causes superficial and life-threatening infections. C. albicans has become one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide among immunocompromised individuals (2). Importantly, Candida has been shown to be the third most commonly isolated blood pathogen from patients in U.S. hospitals (3).
According to the National Institutes of Health (USA), more than 60% of all microbial infections are associated with biofilms (4). Biofilms are particularly problematic in the clinical environment and, like bacteria, various fungal species can form biofilms in vivo and in vitro (5). Among fungi, C. albicans is the most common pathogen associated with fungal biofilm infections, especially infections related to implanted medical devices (6). A common issue associated with C. albicans biofilms is the increased resistance of these biofilms to antifungal agents such as azole drugs and their derivatives and to host immune defenses. The increased resistance is due to the extracellular matrix secreted by the Candida cells, which shields the Candida cells from antibodies and prevents drugs from penetrating the biofilm 7 and 8. The emergence of resistant C. albicans has a major impact on public health and the economy. Because of the increasing prevalence of drug-resistant C. albicans, there is an urgent need to develop alternative treatments for Candida infections that are safe, effective and inexpensive.
Among all of the strategies that have been exploited to overcome drug resistance, the use of natural substances has shown particular promise, and many natural substances have been found to have antifungal properties (9). Bee products such as honey and propolis are rich sources of essential bioactive compounds. Because of its medicinal qualities, honey has been used for the management of many diseases throughout the ages and has become a traditional remedy for treating microbial infections and wounds 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14. The Talmud, the Old and New Testaments of the Bible, and the Holy Qur'an (1400 years ago) mentioned honey as a cure for diseases. A large chapter (SORA) presents in the Holey Qur'an named BEE (Al Nahl) and part of it says (And thy Holy LORD taught the bee to build its cells in hills, on trees and in men's habitations, then to eat of all the produce of the earth and find with skill the spacious paths of its LORD, there issues from within their bodies a drink of varying colors, wherein is healing for men, verily in this is a sign for those who give thought).
The antimicrobial properties of honey depend on its type, flower source, botanical and geographical origins and the harvesting, processing and storage conditions used 12, 15 and 16. Honey is widely used in the Arabian peninsula for nutritional and therapeutic purposes; however, no research has been conducted on the antimicrobial activity of regional honey collected in the Arabian peninsula. The antimicrobial effects of honey on Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and other bacterial biofilms have been studied 17, 18, 19 and 20. Honey also reduces the production of an extracellular polysaccharide matrix while promoting the disruption of mature biofilms 21 and 22. The effect of honey on C. albicans biofilms has not been extensively studied 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29. To our knowledge, no research has been conducted on the effect of honey on C. albicans biofilms. A better understanding of C. albicans responses to honey may facilitate its use as a biofilm inhibitor. The aim of this study was to use broth dilution assay followed by the determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of jujube honey and use of new techniques like scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy to investigate the in vitro effects of jujube honey on planktonic states of C. albicans and detachment of biofilm-embedded states.
Some Candida species are found as endosymbionts in most healthy individuals. C.
Propolis is a regional strongly differing heterogeneous glue material generated by honeybees using plant resins and beeswax.
Beekeeping is one of the most important economic activities for rural communities in Saudi Arabia, where approximately 5000 beekeepers maintain more than one million honeybee colonies and produce…