2019 Volume 36 Issue 1 Pages 40-46
The microbicidal effect of yellow Chinese chive against Candida albicans was assessed using mycological and morphological examinations. When C. albicans was treated with yellow Chinese chive for more than 24 hr, the number of viable cells was significantly decreased and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that the surfaces of the microbes were partially damaged. Notably, yellow Chinese chive appeared to be more effective than standard Chinese chive against C. albicans. The results of microplate biofilm assays demonstrated that C. albicans biofilm formation was suppressed by pre-treatment with yellow Chinese chive. The suppression of biofilm formation by yellow Chinese chive treatment was also confirmed with the SEM observations, which demonstrated that the amounts of matrix and slime-like substances around the surface of the pre-treated cells were both lower than those in control cells. These results suggest that yellow Chinese chive not only induced damage to the cell surface of C. albicans but also suppressed biofilm formation by these cells.
