Inhibitory effect of menthol on expression of aspartyl proteinase 1 in fluconazoleresistant Candida albicans

Introduction: Fluconazoleresistant Candida albicans is one of the biggest problems faced in clinical practice. Using of natural pure compounds such as menthol could be one of the most frequently ways to solve this problem. The aims of this study were to investigate the hypha formation and gene expression profiling of fluconazoleresistant C. albicans treated by menthol. Methods: Colonizing vaginal isolates of C. albicans were recognized and fluconazoleresistant detected by WHONET software. The relative MICs of menthol were determined by broth microdilution for fluconazoleresistant isolates. The potency of menthol to inhibit hypha formation exploited using a light microscopy. Finally, the expression of SAP1 was measured using quantitative Real Time RT PCR. Results: Out of colonizing vaginal isolates of C. albicans, 100% were found to be fluconazolresistant. MIC90 for menthol was reported in fluconazolresistant isolates at 1.6 to 25 μg/mL. Additionally, all isolates treated with menthol showed the significant reduction in hyphae and number of planktonic cells. Furthermore, the expression levels of SAP1 were increased by 1.53 and 1.43fold at concentrations of 2 × MIC and 1 × MIC, respectively, in the fluconazolresistance C. albicans cells treated with fluconazol. While, treatment with menthol was down regulated of SAP1 expression by 2.02 and 1.85fold at concentrations of 2 × MIC and 1 × MIC, respectively (P ≤ 0.05). Conclusion: These findings suggest that menthol could has potential applications in the treatment of infections due to fluconazoleresistance C. albicans. In addition, SAP1 could be probable molecular target of menthol in C. albicans.