Antifungal Activities of Short Chain Fatty Acids.

http://gateway.nlm.nih.gov/MeetingAbstracts/ma?f=102246964.html



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We evaluated the in vitro antifungal activities of short chain fatty acids:

- butyric
- valeric
- caproic
- caprylic

against Candida species and emerging moulds.

RESULTS:

C. lusitaniae isolates, both amphotericin B susceptible and resistant forms, and C. tropicalis were inhibited by 0.8mM of butyric acid.

C. albicans, C. guilliermondii (AmB-resistant and susceptible isolates), C. glabrata, A. flavus, and A. fumigatus, were inhibited by 1.6 mM valeric acid.

These and all of the other mould isolates, were inhibited by 0.8mM valeric acid. C. krusei the was most refractory, but was still inhibited by 3.2 mM of both acids. 0.8 mM valeric acid was fungicidal for C. albicans and A. fumigatus after less than one hour exposure.

CONCLUSIONS: SCFA, particularly valeric acid, have fungicidal activity for a wide range of moulds and yeasts. Fungicidal activity is rapid and potentially nontoxic, suggesting a potential use for these or modified SCFA as topical or inhaled antifungal regimens.