THE EFFECT OF BRAZILIAN PROPOLIS ON THE GERM TUBE FORMATION AND CELL WALL OF CANDIDA ALBICANS

Summary Candidal adherence has been implicated as the first step in the pathogenesis of oral candidosis, and germ tube formation by Candida albicans has been attributed as co-factor that promotes adherence. Propolis, a natural product produced by the honeybee, has been shown to possess antifungal activity although the mechanism of its action remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the germ tube formation capacity of C.albicans (ATCC18804) following its exposure to Brazilian Green Propolis (BGP) at different concentrations. The ultrastructural topographic features of the yeast cells exposed to propolis using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and light microscopy (LM) were performed to investigate the morphology of the yeast. Yeast cell suspensions were added to tubes containing foetal calf serum medium (2 h-37oC). Nystatin and C. glabrata (ATCC 2001) were used as control. Absence of germ tube formation (LM) occurred at 0,33 µg/mL. The ultrastructural findings (TEM) showed hyperplasia and changes in the cell surface at 0,43 µg/mL . It is suggested that the antifungal activity of propolis is due to changes in the cell wall leading to an increase of volume and membrane rupture. The positive results suggest that propolis should be further tested as an alternative therapy for infectious conditions of the oral cavity, such candidiasis and denture stomatitis.