The Antifungal Potential of Ozonated Extra-Virgin Olive Oil Against <i>Candida albicans</i>: Mechanisms and Efficacy
The growing emergence of resistance mechanisms and side effects associated with antifungal agents highlight the need for alternative therapies. This study aims to investigate the antifungal potential of ozonated extra-virgin olive oil (EOO) against <i>Candida albicans</i>, with the goal...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2024-11-01
|
| Series: | Biomolecules |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/14/11/1472 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850145075782221824 |
|---|---|
| author | Simone Augello Valentina Cameli Arianna Montanari Stefano Tacconi Daniela Uccelletti Luciana Dini Emily Schifano |
| author_facet | Simone Augello Valentina Cameli Arianna Montanari Stefano Tacconi Daniela Uccelletti Luciana Dini Emily Schifano |
| author_sort | Simone Augello |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The growing emergence of resistance mechanisms and side effects associated with antifungal agents highlight the need for alternative therapies. This study aims to investigate the antifungal potential of ozonated extra-virgin olive oil (EOO) against <i>Candida albicans</i>, with the goal of developing eco-friendly and highly effective treatments based on natural products. Antifungal activity was evaluated via cell viability and biofilm formation assays using Crystal Violet and Sytox green staining. The results showed that EOO reduced <i>C. albicans</i> viability in a dose-dependent manner, achieving over 90% cell death at a 3% (<i>v</i>/<i>v</i>) concentration. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) revealed cell wall structural damage, and ROS levels increased by approximately 60% compared to untreated controls within 10 min of treatment. Additionally, the expression of autophagy-related genes <i>atg-7</i> and <i>atg-13</i>was upregulated by 2- and 3.5-fold, respectively, after 15 min, suggesting a stress-induced cell death response. EOO also significantly inhibited hyphal formation and biofilm development, thus reducing <i>C. albicans</i> pathogenicity while preserving cell biocompatibility. EOO antifungal activity was also observed in the case of <i>Candida glabrata.</i> In conclusion, ozonated olive oil demonstrates potent antifungal activity against <i>C. albicans</i> by reducing cell viability, inhibiting hyphal and biofilm formation, and triggering oxidative stress and autophagy pathways. These findings position EOO as a promising alternative therapy for fungal infections. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c03d623a5ecc4a9f8e72df0bbeca709b |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2218-273X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biomolecules |
| spelling | doaj-art-c03d623a5ecc4a9f8e72df0bbeca709b2025-08-20T02:28:11ZengMDPI AGBiomolecules2218-273X2024-11-011411147210.3390/biom14111472The Antifungal Potential of Ozonated Extra-Virgin Olive Oil Against <i>Candida albicans</i>: Mechanisms and EfficacySimone Augello0Valentina Cameli1Arianna Montanari2Stefano Tacconi3Daniela Uccelletti4Luciana Dini5Emily Schifano6Department of Biology and Biotechnology “Charles Darwin”, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Biology and Biotechnology “Charles Darwin”, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Biology and Biotechnology “Charles Darwin”, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Biology and Biotechnology “Charles Darwin”, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Biology and Biotechnology “Charles Darwin”, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Biology and Biotechnology “Charles Darwin”, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Biology and Biotechnology “Charles Darwin”, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, ItalyThe growing emergence of resistance mechanisms and side effects associated with antifungal agents highlight the need for alternative therapies. This study aims to investigate the antifungal potential of ozonated extra-virgin olive oil (EOO) against <i>Candida albicans</i>, with the goal of developing eco-friendly and highly effective treatments based on natural products. Antifungal activity was evaluated via cell viability and biofilm formation assays using Crystal Violet and Sytox green staining. The results showed that EOO reduced <i>C. albicans</i> viability in a dose-dependent manner, achieving over 90% cell death at a 3% (<i>v</i>/<i>v</i>) concentration. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) revealed cell wall structural damage, and ROS levels increased by approximately 60% compared to untreated controls within 10 min of treatment. Additionally, the expression of autophagy-related genes <i>atg-7</i> and <i>atg-13</i>was upregulated by 2- and 3.5-fold, respectively, after 15 min, suggesting a stress-induced cell death response. EOO also significantly inhibited hyphal formation and biofilm development, thus reducing <i>C. albicans</i> pathogenicity while preserving cell biocompatibility. EOO antifungal activity was also observed in the case of <i>Candida glabrata.</i> In conclusion, ozonated olive oil demonstrates potent antifungal activity against <i>C. albicans</i> by reducing cell viability, inhibiting hyphal and biofilm formation, and triggering oxidative stress and autophagy pathways. These findings position EOO as a promising alternative therapy for fungal infections.https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/14/11/1472<i>C. albicans</i>antifungalozonated oiloxidative stressautophagy |
| spellingShingle | Simone Augello Valentina Cameli Arianna Montanari Stefano Tacconi Daniela Uccelletti Luciana Dini Emily Schifano The Antifungal Potential of Ozonated Extra-Virgin Olive Oil Against <i>Candida albicans</i>: Mechanisms and Efficacy Biomolecules <i>C. albicans</i> antifungal ozonated oil oxidative stress autophagy |
| title | The Antifungal Potential of Ozonated Extra-Virgin Olive Oil Against <i>Candida albicans</i>: Mechanisms and Efficacy |
| title_full | The Antifungal Potential of Ozonated Extra-Virgin Olive Oil Against <i>Candida albicans</i>: Mechanisms and Efficacy |
| title_fullStr | The Antifungal Potential of Ozonated Extra-Virgin Olive Oil Against <i>Candida albicans</i>: Mechanisms and Efficacy |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Antifungal Potential of Ozonated Extra-Virgin Olive Oil Against <i>Candida albicans</i>: Mechanisms and Efficacy |
| title_short | The Antifungal Potential of Ozonated Extra-Virgin Olive Oil Against <i>Candida albicans</i>: Mechanisms and Efficacy |
| title_sort | antifungal potential of ozonated extra virgin olive oil against i candida albicans i mechanisms and efficacy |
| topic | <i>C. albicans</i> antifungal ozonated oil oxidative stress autophagy |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/14/11/1472 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT simoneaugello theantifungalpotentialofozonatedextravirginoliveoilagainsticandidaalbicansimechanismsandefficacy AT valentinacameli theantifungalpotentialofozonatedextravirginoliveoilagainsticandidaalbicansimechanismsandefficacy AT ariannamontanari theantifungalpotentialofozonatedextravirginoliveoilagainsticandidaalbicansimechanismsandefficacy AT stefanotacconi theantifungalpotentialofozonatedextravirginoliveoilagainsticandidaalbicansimechanismsandefficacy AT danielauccelletti theantifungalpotentialofozonatedextravirginoliveoilagainsticandidaalbicansimechanismsandefficacy AT lucianadini theantifungalpotentialofozonatedextravirginoliveoilagainsticandidaalbicansimechanismsandefficacy AT emilyschifano theantifungalpotentialofozonatedextravirginoliveoilagainsticandidaalbicansimechanismsandefficacy AT simoneaugello antifungalpotentialofozonatedextravirginoliveoilagainsticandidaalbicansimechanismsandefficacy AT valentinacameli antifungalpotentialofozonatedextravirginoliveoilagainsticandidaalbicansimechanismsandefficacy AT ariannamontanari antifungalpotentialofozonatedextravirginoliveoilagainsticandidaalbicansimechanismsandefficacy AT stefanotacconi antifungalpotentialofozonatedextravirginoliveoilagainsticandidaalbicansimechanismsandefficacy AT danielauccelletti antifungalpotentialofozonatedextravirginoliveoilagainsticandidaalbicansimechanismsandefficacy AT lucianadini antifungalpotentialofozonatedextravirginoliveoilagainsticandidaalbicansimechanismsandefficacy AT emilyschifano antifungalpotentialofozonatedextravirginoliveoilagainsticandidaalbicansimechanismsandefficacy |