Curcumin antifungal and antioxidant activities are increased in the presence of ascorbic acid

• Published in: Food chemistry Vol. 133; no. 3; pp. 1001 - 1005
• Main Authors: Khalil, Omar Arafat Kdudsi, de Faria Oliveira, Olga Maria Mascarenhas, Vellosa, José Carlos Rebuglio, de Quadros, Andreza Urba, Dalposso, Loriangela Marceli, Karam, Thaysa Ksiaskiewcz, Mainardes, Rubiana Mara, Khalil, Najeh Maissar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: Antifungal; Antioxidant; Antioxidants; Ascorbic acid; Biological and medical sciences; Candida albicans; Curcumin; Food industries; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Curcumin; Ascorbic acid; Antifungal; Antioxidant; Antifungal agent; Vitamin
• ISSN: 0308-8146; 1873-7072
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2012.02.009

► Curcumin and ascorbic acid were associated. ► Antifungal activity of isolated and associated compounds was analysed. ► Antioxidant activity of isolated and associated compounds was analysed. ► The association with ascorbic acid decreased the curcumin MIC. ► Antioxidant activity of curcumin was increased by ascorbic acid. The objective of this study was to evaluate the antifungal and antioxidant activities of curcumin, ascorbic acid and the mixture of these two compounds. For the antifungal assay, the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were determined using Candida strains (ATCC and clinical isolates). Curcumin alone inhibited growth of Candida albicans yeast cells, whereas ascorbic acid did not present effects. However, when the mixture of ascorbic acid and curcumin was assayed to determine the association of the two compounds, the curcumin MIC decreased 5- to 10-fold. In the antioxidant assays, the sum of the alone activities of curcumin and ascorbic acid were lower than the activity of the two-compound mixture. This study highlights the importance of the association between two common antioxidants in foods, to improve the antifungal and antioxidant activities of curcumin (in vitro), and can be applied to Candida spp. infection and diseases associated with oxidative stress.