A Comprehensive in vitro and in silico Assessment on Inhibition of CYP51B and Ergosterol Biosynthesis by Eugenol in Rhizopus oryzae.

Mucormycosis, also known as Zygomycosis, is a disease caused by invasive fungi, predominantly Rhizopus species belonging to the Order of Mucorales. Seeing from the chemistry perspective, heterocyclic compounds with an "azole" moiety are widely employed as antifungal agent for minimising the effect of mucormycosis as a prescribed treatment. These azoles serve as non-competitive inhibitors of fungal CYP51B by predominantly binding to its heme moiety, rendering its inhibition. However, long-term usage and abuse of azoles as antifungal medicines has resulted in drug resistance among certain fungal pathogens. Hence, there is an unmet need to find alternative therapeutic compounds. In present study, we used various in vitro tests to investigate the antifungal activity of eugenol against R. oryzae/R. arrhizus, including ergosterol quantification to test inhibition of ergosterol production mediated antifungal action. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value obtained for eugenol was 512 µg/ml with reduced ergosterol concentration of 77.11 ± 3.25% at MIC/2 concentration. Further, the molecular interactions of eugenol with fungal CYP51B were meticulously studied making use of proteomics in silico study including molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations that showed eugenol to be strongly interacting with heme in an identical fashion to that shown by azole drugs (in this case, clotrimazole was evaluated). This is the first of a kind study showing the simulation study of eugenol with CYP51B of fungi. This inhibition results in ergosterol synthesis and is also studied and compared with keeping clotrimazole as a reference.

P-glycoprotein induction and its energetic costs in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).

Biological organisms are constantly challenged by xenobiotics and have evolved mechanisms to reduce, neutralize, or repair toxic outcomes. The various chemical defenses all utilize energy, but their specific costs and impacts on energy budgets are currently unknown. In this study, the energetic costs associated with the induction and substrate transport of the efflux transporter P-glycoprotein (P-gp [ABCB1, MDR1]) were examined in rainbow trout. An intraperitoneal injection of the P-gp inducer clotrimazole (0, 0.1, 1.0, and 10 mg/kg) increased P-gp activity (as measured by a competitive rhodamine 123 transport assay in hepatocytes) in a dose-dependent manner reaching a maximum induction of 2.8-fold. Maximum P-gp induction occurred at 50 h post-administration with the highest dose; significant induction of P-gp activity remained elevated over constitutive values until the last sampling time point (168 h). In vitro measurements of hepatocyte respiration indicated that basal P-gp activity transporting R123 as a substrate did not significantly increase respiration rates (range 18.0 to 23.2 ng O2/min/106 cells); however, following the induction of P-gp by clotrimazole and exposure to the P-gp substrate R123, respiration rates increased significantly (3.52-fold) over baseline values. Using whole animal respirometry, it was shown that respiration rates in fish exposed to R123 only or induced with clotrimazole were not different from controls (range 1.2 to 2.1 mg O2/kg/min); however, respiration rates were significantly increased in fish with induced P-gp levels and also exposed to R123. This work indicates that basal and induced levels of P-gp activity do not incur significant energetic costs to fish; however, upon induction of P-gp and concomitant substrate exposures, energetic costs can increase and could pose challenges to organisms facing limited energy resources.

The application of nanomaterial science in the formulation a novel antibiotic: Assessment of the antifungal properties of mucoadhesive clotrimazole loaded nanofiber versus vaginal films.

Candidiasis is the origin of several chronic diseases and causes a wide range of symptoms from mucosal to systemic and deadly infections. Vaginal patches are one of the best drug delivery systems for the treatment of fungal infections in the vaginal environment, so a mucoadhesive film containing drugs such as clotrimazole and metronidazole is commercially available for patients. In the present study, a physicochemical comparison is made between clotrimazole loaded film and nanofiber fabricated with the new hybrid mucoadhesive formulation of dextran and alginate. Toxicity testing was performed using the MTT assay. Bioadhesion and antifungal effects were investigated for fibers and films. The release behavior of clotrimazole from two systems was evaluated by Franz cell in each case. The most important difference between nanofibrous and film mats were obtained in antifungal, mucoadhesive, Young's modulus and morphology. The nanofiber has a higher antifungal effect and two-fold adhesive to the mouse tissue, than film. The inherent flexibility of nanofiber obviated the need for a plasticizer, which may have cytotoxic side effects. The Clotrimazole loaded nanofibrous of Alginate/Dextran mats were successfully electrospun. They exhibited more bioadhesive with higher and faster antifungal properties versus similar formulation film. Further in vivo investigation is required for their application in vaginal candidiasis.

A simultaneous assessment of CYP3A4 metabolism and induction in the DPX-2 cell line.

The DPX-2 cell line, a derivative of HepG2 cells, harbors human PXR and a luciferase-linked CYP3A4 promoter. These cells were used in a panel of cell-based assays for a parallel assessment of CYP3A4 induction, metabolism, and inhibition at the cellular level. CYP3A4 induction in the DPX-2 cell line by various agents was monitored in 96-well plates by a luciferase-based transcriptional activation assay. Of the prototypical CYP3A4 inducers examined, all exhibited elevated luciferase activity in DPX-2 cells. CYP3A4 enzyme activity in noninduced and rifampicin-induced DPX-2 cells was also assessed using Vivid fluorogenic substrates. Significantly elevated CYP3A4 activity levels (2.8-fold +/- 0.2-fold above DMSO-treated cells) were found in DPX-2 cells after 48 hours of exposure to rifampicin, but were undetectable in parental HepG2 cells. Rifampicin-induced activity levels were found to be suitable for assessing the inhibitory potential of new chemical entities in downstream CYP3A4 inhibition assays. The elevated CYP3A4 activity was inhibited 85% by 10 microM ketoconazole. In addition, a cytotoxicity assay to correct for possible toxic effects of compounds at the cellular level was applied. The comparative data obtained with a combination of the above assays suggests that the application of several independent in vitro technologies used in DPX-2 cells is the best possible strategy for the assessment of the complex phenomena of CYP3A4 induction and inhibition.

Fluorometric assessment of In vitro antidermatophytic activities of antimycotics based on their keratin-penetrating power.

Keratin particles impregnated with amorolfine or clotrimazole in serial doubling dilutions (64 to 0.125 microg/ml) were used to evaluate the activities of these agents against 20 isolates each of Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Trichophyton rubrum in a yeast carbon broth medium incorporating Alamar Blue dye. The proposed MIC with keratin impregnation (MIC(K)) is defined as the lowest concentration of an agent used to impregnate keratin particles that effects a fluorescence-based fungal growth quotient of 0.05 or less. The conventional colorimetric and visual MICs of amorolfine for the dermatophytes, 64 microg/ml] and 64 microg/ml [range, 16 to >64 microg], respectively) may indicate the strong in vivo antidermatophytic activity of amorolfine as a topical agent. The new antidermatophytic susceptibility testing procedure has potential clinical utility for the in vitro screening of agents for use in the topical treatment of superficial mycoses.

Isozyme-specific monoclonal antibody-directed assessment of induction of hepatic cytochrome p-450 by clotrimazole.

Clotrimazole, an N-substituted imidazole widely used as an antifungal agent, has been shown to both inhibit and induce hepatic cytochrome P-450 and related monooxygenase activities. In this study the profile of hepatic cytochrome P-450 isozyme(s) induced by clotrimazole treatment of male Sprague-Dawley rats was investigated. Clotrimazole administration (100 mg/kg, daily for 4 days, ig) resulted in 86% induction of spectrally detectable cytochrome P-450 in hepatic microsomes. In these microsomes 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase (126%), aminopyrine N-demethylase (176%), benzphetamine N-demethylase (117%), p-nitrophenol hydroxylase (89%), and 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (62%) activities were significantly induced, whereas aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity remained unchanged. Characterization of cytochrome P-450 isozyme(s) in hepatic microsomes prepared from clotrimazole-treated animals was based on the immunoreactivity of these microsomes with highly specific monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) raised against 3-methylcholanthrene-specific P-450 (MAb 1-7-1), phenobarbital-specific P-450 (MAb 2-66-3), pregnenolone-16 alpha-carbonitrile-specific P-450 (MAb C2), and ethanol-inducible P-450 (MAb 1-98-1). Western blot analysis of hepatic microsomes prepared from clotrimazole-treated animals with MAb 2-66-3, MAb 1-98-1, and MAb C2 revealed strong immunoreactive bands, whereas moderate reactivity was observed with MAb 1-7-1. MAb 2-66-3 significantly inhibited 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase activity 45%), whereas MAb 1-7-1 moderately inhibited 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase activity (-30%) in clotrimazole-treated animals.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Assessment of the antiphlogistic effect of naftifin-HCl in the UV-B erythema test]. / Nachweis der antiphlogistischen Wirkung von Naftifin-HCl im UV-B-Erythemtest.

In a placebo-controlled double-blind comparative study conducted in 19 healthy volunteers, naftifin hydrochlorid cream was tested against clotrimazole 1%, clotrimazole 1%+hydrocortisone 1%, and various hydrocortisone preparations (0.5%; 1%; 2.5%) for erythema-suppressive effects. The anti-inflammatory effect of naftifine hydrochloride demonstrated earlier was confirmed in this study. The results prove a potency comparable to that of weak topical glucocorticosteroids.