1.Therapeutic efficacy of seaweed extract (Ulva Fasciata Delile) against invasive candidiasis in mice
Fathy, S.A. ; Mohamed, M.R. ; Emam, M.A. ; Mohamed, S.S ; Ghareeb, D.A. ; Elgohary, S.A. ; Abd-El Megeed, D.F.
Tropical Biomedicine 2019;36(4):972-986
Candida is the most frequent common causes of invasive fungal infections and
associated with high morbidity and mortality. Most of available antifungal agents have side
effects. This opened up new avenues to investigate the antifungal efficacy of active extracts
from marine algae. So the aim of this study was to evaluate the protective and the curative
effect of Ulva fasciata extract against an invasive candidiasis in mice and to study its
underlying mechanism. The active ingredients of Ulva fasciata extract were evaluated using
HPLC and GC/MS. Fifty mice were included in current work, and the level of inflammatory
markers; Interleukin (IL)-4, IL-12, Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and Tumor necrosis factor-alpha
(TNF-α) were determined using ELISA kits. Hematological, biochemical and oxidative stress
parameters were determined using commercial kits. Moreover, the histopathological
examinations were carried on liver, kidney and spleen for all groups. The results obtained
showed that treatment with U. fasciata either before or after Candida infection significantly
improved the hematological, biochemical alterations and antioxidant status caused by this
infection. Furthermore, the U. fasciata reduced histopathological changes induced by Candida
as well as it could increase the expression of IL-12 and IFN-γ while minimized the expression
of TNF-α and IL-4 in all infected mice compared to infected untreated mice. These data
propose that U. fasciata can ameliorate inflammatory reactions related to Candida albicans
cytotoxicity via its ability to augment cellular antioxidant defenses by its active compounds.