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Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad , Novi Sad , Serbia
Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad , Novi Sad , Serbia
Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad , Novi Sad , Serbia
Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad , Novi Sad , Serbia
Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad , Novi Sad , Serbia
Fungal infections represent a considerable cause of morbidity and mortality, whereby several species of the genus Candida cause invasive candidiasis. Considering the growing problem of resistance to conventional antifungal drugs in Candida strains, the development of new natural antifungal agents represents promising alternatives. Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) have been identified as one of the most promising groups of organisms for the isolation of new and bioactive compounds, whereby species of the genus Arthrospira, known as “Spirulina”, have a particular commercial value. This study aimed to assess the antifungal activity of two Arthrospira strains against Candida guilliermondii spp. and Candida spp.L , using four types of extracts: aqueous, ethanolic, methanolic, and chloroform. There have been applied two methods; disk diffusion where on each sterile disk was added 30-50 µL of cyanobacterial extract, and microdilution method where the extracts were tested in series of double dilutions. Using the disk diffusion method, antifungal activity was found only in chloroform extracts, with inhibition zones of 9 and 11 mm. On the other hand, by microdilution method was detected activity in an aqueous extract of strain Arthrospira 1, with a MIC value of 17.1 mg mL-1 . The results showed that tested Arthrospira strains produce antifungal compounds.
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