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Abstract
Aim: To explore the antifungal potential of Sanghuang mushroom, a traditional Chinese medicine. Materials & methods: The antifungal properties and the potential mechanism of Sanghuang mushroom extracts against Candida albicans were studied in vitro and in vivo. Results: Sanghuang mushroom extracts inhibited the biofilm formation, increased the cell membrane permeability and promoted cell apoptosis of C. albicans in vitro. In a murine model of vulvovaginal candidiasis, Sanghuang mushroom extracts reduced the vaginal fungal load, improved inflammatory cell infiltration and downregulated the expression of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6. Untargeted metabolomic analysis suggested the presence of ten antifungal components in Sanghuang mushroom extracts. Conclusion: Sanghuang mushroom extracts showed promise as antifungal agent against candidiasis, with potential therapeutic implications.
Sanghuang mushroom extracts exhibit potent antifungal properties against C. albicans.
Scanning electron microscopy reveals the impact of Sanghuang mushroom extracts on biofilm architecture.
A murine model of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) confirms the ability of Sanghuang mushroom extracts to suppress C. albicans infiltration.
Flow cytometry data illustrate the induction of reactive oxygen species and promotion of apoptosis in C. albicans biofilm cells.
Untargeted metabolomic analysis identifies potential bioactive compounds contributing to the antifungal effects.
Sanghuang mushroom extracts emerge as promising candidates for the development of novel antifungal therapies.
Supplementary material
Supplementary data for this article can be accessed at https://doi.org/10.1080/17460913.2024.2352269
Acknowledgments
Assistance from J Shao, School of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine in providing C. albicans strain SC5314 was greatly appreciated.
Author contributions
J Du, S Jin, Y Zhang and W Qiu carried out the studies, participated in collecting data and drafted the manuscript. W Xu, Y Dong and Y Liu performed the statistical analysis and participated in its design. W Xu, D Yin and Y Yang participated in acquisition, analysis or interpretation of data and draft the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Financial disclosure
This study was supported by the Anhui Provincial Natural Science Foundation (2108085QH374), Fundamental Research Funds for the Anhui University of Chinese Medicine (2020rcyb008), Foundation of Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Research and Development of Chinese Medicine (AKLPDCM202310) and Research Funds of Joint Research Center for Chinese Herbal Medicine of Anhui of IHM (yjzx2023005) to W Xu, Research Funds of Joint Research Center for Qianshan Medical Health Development Technology Research Center (2021QSHZ01) and Anhui University of Chinese Medicine College Students' Innovative Entrepreneurial Training Plan Program (S202210369005) to D Yin. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.
Competing interests disclosure
The authors have no competing interests or relevant affiliations with any organization or entity with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.
Writing disclosure
No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.
Ethical conduct of research
All animal experiments were approved by the Experimental Animal Ethics Committee of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine (AHUCM-mouse-2022127).