Phytochemicals with antifungal properties: Cure from nature

Amal A M Elgharbawy; Nurhusna Samsudin; Farah Fadwa Benbelgacem; Yumi Zuhanis Has-yun Hashim; Hamzah Mohd Salleh; Jacinta Santhanam

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Phytochemicals with antifungal properties: Cure from nature

Author: Amal A. M. Elgharbawy ¹ ; Nurhusna Samsudin ¹ ; Farah Fadwa Benbelgacem ² ; Yumi Zuhanis Has-Yun Hashim ¹ ; Hamzah Mohd. Salleh ¹ ; Jacinta Santhanam ³
Author Information

1. International Institute for Halal Research and Training (INHART), International Islamic University Malaysia, P.O. Box 10, 50728 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
2. Department of Biotechnology Engineering, International Islamic University Malaysia, P.O. Box 10, 50728 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
3. Biomedical Science Program, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Publication Type:Journal Article
Keywords: Antifungal, Phytochemical, Secondary metabolite, Natural products, Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC)
MeSH: Phytochemicals--therapeutic use; Antifungal Agents
From:Malaysian Journal of Microbiology 2020;16(4):323-345
CountryMalaysia
Language:English
Abstract: Aims:The exploration of natural products with innovative uses is dynamic and expanding rapidly. Medicinal plants have fascinated many researchers that subsequently lead to research publications highlighting plant extracts with wide range of secondary metabolites such as flavonoids, alkaloids, glycosides, quinones, terpenoids, tannins and saponins that exhibit antimicrobial activities and disease control. The concentration of these bioactive compounds in each plant species varies based on the pathosystem and environmental conditions. This study aims to uncover the various types of phytochemicals with antifungal properties.
Methodology and results:Seven categories of plant-based antifungal compounds were reviewed, which are terpenoids, saponins, phenolic compounds, coumarins, alkaloids, essential oils and peptides, with examples and structures of some available compounds. The mechanism of action of each category of phytochemical was discussed. Also, the impact of some compounds was explained and elaborated.
Conclusion, significance and impact of study:It is of a great importance to explore natural plant fighters against fungal infection. Those active plant components do not only have antifungal properties, but they also help in the healing process and some even exhibit anticancer activities. The development and knowledge of antifungal activities from plant extracts have the potential for applications in antifungal therapy. Since the exact description of how antifungal compounds function in the human body is still unclear more studies are required to unveil phytochemicals’ properties and to elucidate their effects on living cells.
Full text:20.2020my0010.pdf