Acta Chimica Slovaca (ACS) publishes papers on fundamental and applied aspects of chemistry, biochemistry, chemical technology, chemical engineering and process control, biotechnology and food technology. Welcome are also topics which include chemical aspects of materials, physical chemistry and chemical physics, analytical chemistry, macromolecular chemistry and biomedical engineering.

Effects of [Cu(2‑MeSNic)2(MeNia)2(H2O)2]·H2O and [Cu(2‑MeSNic)2(H2O)]2 on Candida albicans

Barbora Kaliňáková *, Daniela Hudecová, Peter Segľa a, Martina Palicová b, Jozef Švorec c

Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, Slovak University of Technology, Radlinského 9, SK-812 37 Bratislava, Slovak Republic
a Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, Slovak University of Technology, Radlinského 9, SK-81237 Bratislava, Slovak Republic
b Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, Slovak University of Technology, Radlinského 9, SK-81237 Bratislava, Slovak Republic
c Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, Slovak University of Technology, Radlinského 9, SK-81237 Bratislava, Slovak Republic

E-mail: * barbora.kalinakova@stuba.sk

Abstract: Probable mode of action of new copper complexes of 2-methylthionicotinate (2-MeSNic) of composition [Cu(2-MeSNic)2(H2O)2] and [Cu(2-MeSNic)2(MeNia)2(H2O)2]·H2O (where MeNia is N-methyl­nicotin­amide) is described. Both partial growth inhibition of Candida albicans (IC50 ≥ 1.78 mmol·L–1, MIC ≥ 2.5 mmol·L–1) and leak of proteins into the extracellular space (more than 80 %) were observed in the presence of these copper complexes. The membrane damage was detected by staining with Hoechst 33342, propidium iodide and methylene blue. Ascorbic acid and glutathione potentiated antifungal activity of copper complexes approximately seven-fold and induced the oxidative stress, respectively. The production of intracellular reactive oxygen species was visualized by dichlorofluorescein. Thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances were formed as a by-product of lipid peroxidation.

Keywords: Candida albicans, copper 2-methylthionicotinate, membrane attack, mode of action, oxidative damage

Full paper in Portable Document Format: acs_0206.pdf

Acta Chimica Slovaca, Vol. 8, No. 1, 2015, pp. 39—43, DOI: 10.1515/acs-2015-0008