Antifungal activities and action mechanisms of compounds from
Tribulus terrestris
J
Ethnopharmacol. Sept. 14, 2005
Antifungal activity of natural products is being studied widely. Saponins
(abundant in Tribulus terrestris) are known to be antifungal and
antibacterial. The in vitro antifungal activities of the eight saponins
against five yeasts, Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Candida
parapsilosis, Candida tropicalis and Cryptococcus neoformans were studied.
In vivo activity of tribulus terrestris in a Candida albicans vaginal
infection model was studied in particular. The results showed that
tribulus terrestris was very effective against several pathogenic candidal
species and Cryptococcus neoformans in vitro. It is noteworthy that tribulus
terrestris saponins were very active against Candida albicans and
Cryptococcus neoformans. Phase contrast microscopy showed that tribulus
terrestris inhibited hyphal formation, an important virulence factor of
Candida albicans, and transmission electron microscopy showed that tribulus
terrestris destroyed the cell membrane of Candida albicans. In conclusion,
tribulus terrestris has significant in vitro and in vivo antifungal
activity, weakening the virulence of Candida albicans and killing fungi
through destroying the cell membrane.
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