Antifungal action of chlorogenic acid against pathogenic fungi, mediated by membrane disruption

Abstract

Chlorogenic acid is a polyphenol compound, derived from several fruit and plants. The aim of this study was to assess the in vitro antifungal activity of chlorogenic acid and its mode of action. The results indicate that chlorogenic acid exhibits antifungal activities against certain pathogenic fungi in an energy-independent manner, without any hemolytic effect on human erythrocytes. To elucidate the antifungal mode of action of chlorogenic acid, flow cytometry analysis by using DiBAC4(3) and changes in membrane dynamics using 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH) were performed with Candida albicans. The results suggest that chlorogenic acid may exert antifungal activity by disrupting the structure of the cell membrane. It is demonstrated that chlorogenic acid is a valid lead compound for the development of bioactive alternatives for treatment of fungal infections.