Postantifungal-like effect of sublethal treatment of Candida albicans with acid-electrolyzed water

Arch Oral Biol. 2015 Mar;60(3):479-87. doi: 10.1016/j.archoralbio.2014.12.008. Epub 2014 Dec 22.

Abstract

Objective: Acid-electrolyzed water (AEW) has been applied to the treatment of oral candidiasis. We evaluated the postantifungal effect (PAFE)-like activity of AEW against Candida albicans under sublethal conditions by exposing C. albicans to dilute AEW.

Design: The growth of C. albicans after a short-term exposure to dilute AEW was evaluated in broth and on agar culture. The involvement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the PAFE was examined by flow cytometric analysis with hydroxyphenyl fluorescein (HPF) as a fluorescence probe.

Results: The dilute AEW exerted PAFE-like activity against C. albicans. ROS were produced in the cells treated with AEW diluted 16 times or fewer. The increase in HPF fluorescence after treatment with dilute AEW was cancelled by dimethyl sulfoxide, a hydroxyl radical (OH) scavenger.

Conclusion: It would be expected that the ROS, especially OH, produced in the C. albicans cells treated with sublethal dilutions of AEW could exert PAFE-like activity against the fungal cells.

Keywords: Acid-electrolyzed water; Candida albicans; Growth inhibition; Reactive oxygen species.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antifungal Agents / pharmacology
  • Candida albicans / drug effects*
  • Candidiasis, Oral / drug therapy*
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Disinfectants / chemistry
  • Disinfectants / pharmacology*
  • Electrolysis
  • Hydrogen Peroxide / chemistry
  • Hydrogen Peroxide / pharmacology*
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Hypochlorous Acid / chemistry
  • Hypochlorous Acid / pharmacology*
  • Microbial Viability / drug effects
  • Reactive Oxygen Species

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • Disinfectants
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • superoxidized water
  • Hypochlorous Acid
  • Hydrogen Peroxide