Volume 7, Issue 3 (7-2021)
Abstract
Backgrounds: Due to the emergence of multidrug-resistant Candida species, the discovery of new antifungal agents with minimum side effects is essential. The aim of this study was to investigate the antifungal activity of caprylic acid and nano-encapsulated caprylic acid against C. albicans as well as their effect on the expression of EFG1 gene.
Materials & Methods: In this laboratory trial study, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of caprylic acid and nano-encapsulated caprylic acid against C. albicans was evaluated at various concentrations (400-625 and 1.3-50 μL/mL, respectively). Real time-PCR was performed to assess the expression level of EFG1 gene. Cytotoxicity effect of caprylic acid and nano-encapsulated caprylic acid was evaluated on SW480 cell line using MTT test.
Findings: Antifungal activity findings displayed that MIC90 and MIC50 values of caprylic acid were 500 and 450 μg/mL, respectively, whereas MIC90 and MIC50 values of nano-encapsulated caprylic acid were 6.2 and 3.1 μg/mL, respectively. The expression of EFG1 gene significantly decreased in the groups treated with caprylic acid and nano-encapsulated caprylic acid compared to the control group. According to the cytotoxicity evaluation findings, the viability of cells treated with caprylic acid was significantly higher than that of cells exposed to nano-encapsulated caprylic acid.
Conclusions: According to the obtained results, nano-encapsulated caprylic acid successfully inhibited C. albicans growth at a lower concentration compared to caprylic acid. Overall, it was found that nano-encapsulated caprylic acid is a promising antifungal agent against Candida species; however, further studies are needed to be performed about nano-encapsulation of caprylic acid.
D. Savaghebi, M. Safari, K. Rezaei, P. Ashtari, J. Farmani,
Volume 14, Issue 6 (11-2012)
Abstract
Enzymatic acidolysis of canola oil through caprylic acid was investigated to produce certain medium chain Ttriacyliglycerol (TAG) structured lipids (SLs). Lipozyme TL IM, an sn-1,3 specific Thermomyces lanuginosa lipase, and Novozym 435, a non-specific Candida antarctica lipase, were utilized as the biocatalysts in a batch reactor. Reaction conditions were designed according to Taguchi’s approach, considering three levels of fatty acid to oil ratio (1:1, 2:1, and 3:1), three levels of enzyme load (4, 8 and 12%, w/w), three levels of temperature (45, 55, and 65°C) as well as three levels of reaction time (15, 30 and 45 hours). Results indicated that fatty acid composition of canola oil was modified by the above acidolysis reactions. The highest mole percent of caprylic acid incorporation (37.2 mole%) was obtained after 15 hours of incubation in the presence of Lipozyme TL IM at 55°C, fatty acid to oil ratio of 3:1 and at 12% of enzyme level. However, with Novozym 435 the highest level of incorporation (38.5 mole%) was obtained after 45 hours of reaction at 45°C, fatty acid to oil ratio of 3:1, and at 8% enzyme level. Novozym 435 was able to incorporate more caprylic acid in the oil than did Lipozyme TL IM. SLs prepared using either Lipozyme TL IM or Novozym 435 differed in terms of their TAG compositions. According to the obtained results, SLs produced by use of Lipozyme TL IM lipase contained higher levels of MLM-type (Medium-Long-Medium) triacylglycerols than those produced using Novozym 435 lipase (21.2 and 9.9%, respectively).
