Celastrol boosts fluconazole efficacy against vaginal candidiasis: in vitro and in vivo evidence

Faculty Pharmacy Year: 2025
Type of Publication: ZU Hosted Pages:
Authors:
Journal: AMB Express Springer Volume:
Keywords : Celastrol boosts fluconazole efficacy against vaginal    
Abstract:
Candida albicans is a commensal fungus that naturally inhabits the vagina. However, overgrowth of C. albicans can result in vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC), one of the most prevalent fungal infections affecting women. The rapid emergence of azole resistance in C. albicans, in addition to the limited available antifungal agents, complicates the treatment and emphasizes the urgent need for novel therapeutic options. Efflux-mediated azole resistance is a common resistance mechanism in fluconazole (FLZ)-resistant C. albicans. Combination therapy using natural compounds is a potential approach that can restore fluconazole's antifungal activity in azole-resistant isolates via efflux pump inhibition. This study aimed to evaluate the ability of celastrol, a natural triterpene, to retrieve FLZ antifungal activity against azole-resistant C. albicans in vitro and in vivo. Celastrol did not exhibit antifungal activity against the tested clinical isolates; however, the sub-MIC of celastrol inhibited rhodamine 6G (R6G) efflux and increased R6G accumulation inside celastrol-treated C. albicans cells. Synergy was spotted between celastrol and FLZ via a checkerboard assay. Quantification of m-RNA levels of efflux-mediated azole resistance genes within azole-resistant C. albicans demonstrated CDR1 overexpression. Upon celastrol treatment, a significant decline in ABC transporters transcript levels were detected. Moreover, molecular docking demonstrated that celastrol is a potential ABC efflux transporters blocker that successfully fits into target binding pockets. A negligible hemolytic effect of celastrol against human erythrocytes was observed. In the in vivo model of VVC, the combination of FLZ and celastrol in vaginal gel revealed a drastic reduction in the fungal burden with apparently normal vaginal tissue. Celastrol promising in vitro and in vivo findings strengthen its future use for the treatment of azole-resistant C. albicans.
   
     
 
       

Author Related Publications

  • Hisham AbdelMonem AbdelHamid Abaas, "Impeding efflux-mediated resistance in Staphylococcus aureus", A & V Publications, 2022 More
  • Hisham AbdelMonem AbdelHamid Abaas, "Celastrol Modulates Multiple Signaling Pathways to Inhibit Proliferation of Pancreatic Cancer via DDIT3 and ATF3 Up-Regulation and RRM2 and MCM4 Down-Regulation", Dove press, 2021 More
  • Hisham AbdelMonem AbdelHamid Abaas, "Xylitol Inhibits Growth and Blocks Virulence in Serratia marcescens", MDPI, 2021 More
  • Hisham AbdelMonem AbdelHamid Abaas, "Tackling Virulence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa by the Natural Furanone Sotolon", MDPI, 2021 More
  • Hisham AbdelMonem AbdelHamid Abaas, "Secnidazole Is a Promising Imidazole Mitigator of Serratia marcescens Virulence", MDPI, 2021 More

Department Related Publications

  • Mona Abdelmoniem Elsayed Mahmmoud , "The value of peritoneal lavage in peritonitis", لايوجد, 1900 More
  • Mona Abdelmoniem Elsayed Mahmmoud , "Chemoantibiotic _ resistance in enteropathogenic Escherichia Coli Locally ", لايوجد, 1900 More
  • Mona Abdelmoniem Elsayed Mahmmoud , "Identification of different Candidia species according to its fatty acids contents.", لايوجد, 1900 More
  • Mona Abdelmoniem Elsayed Mahmmoud , "The effects of various antimicrobial agents against Escherichia coli isolated from urine.", لايوجد, 1900 More
  • Mona Abdelmoniem Elsayed Mahmmoud , "Isolation and Characterization of cellulose from Streptomyces roseoflavus ", لايوجد, 1900 More
Tweet