The Special Antifungal Properties of Sugar Beet Leaves Against Fungal Species
Novelty in Biomedicine,
Vol. 13 No. 3 (2025),
27 July 2025
,
Page 172-178
https://doi.org/10.22037/nbm.v13i3.47821
Abstract
Background: Research on antifungal agents for infectious diseases caused by multidrug-resistant microorganisms, particularly in immunocompromised patients, has continued. Mucormycosis, candidiasis, aspergillosis, and cryptococcosis are mortal and need more attention due to their spreading potential. Natural products with long-time usage as preservatives, food additives, and medicine in traditional and local resources have been investigated for too many purposes. Some medicinal herbs show antimicrobial properties. This study focused on the antifungal properties of Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris), Yarrow (Achillea wilhelmsii K. Koch), Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum), and Den or Don (Oliveria decumbens Vent.) against Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans, Mucor circinelloides, and Aspergillus flavus.
Materials and Methods: The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of hydroethanolic crude extract of Sugar beet leaves (Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris), aerial parts of Yarrow (Achillea wilhelmsii K. Koch), Cinnamon barks (Cinnamomum zeylanicum), and Den or Don aerial parts (Oliveria decumbens Vent.) against clinical and standard isolates of Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans, Mucor circinelloides, and Aspergillus flavus, determined according to CLSI M60 and CLSI-M38-A2 for yeasts and filamentous strains, respectively in comparison to Fluconazole and Amphotericin B as positive controls.
Results: Sugar beet extract revealed the best minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values against clinical/standard Candida albicans (1 µg/ml and 0.5 µg/ml), respectively, but was insufficient against other species. Other herbal extracts showed a higher MIC range compared to controls.
Conclusion: These findings suggest more research in in-vivo studies, finding safe herbal products with antifungal properties.
- Candida albicans
- Filamentous fungi
- Herbal medicine
- Yeast
How to Cite
References
Boutin CA, Luong ML. Update on therapeutic approaches for invasive fungal infections in adults. Ther Adv Infect Dis [Internet]. 2024 2024/01/01; 11. Available from:
Dahiya S, Chhillar KA, Sharma N, Choudhary P, Punia A, Balhara M, et al. Candida auris and Nosocomial Infection. Curr Drug Targets. 2020;21(4):365-73.
Caggiano G, Lovero G, De Giglio O, Barbuti G, Montagna O, Laforgia N, et al. Candidemia in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A Retrospective, Observational Survey and Analysis of Literature Data. Biomed Res Int [Internet]. 2017 PMC5572580]; 2017:[7901763 p.].
Sati H, Beardsley J, Alastruey-Izquierdo A, Alffenaar J-W, Morrissey O, Beyer P, et al. WHO fungal priority pathogens list to guide research development and public health2022.
Krishnan S, Manavathu EK, Chandrasekar PH. Aspergillus flavus: an emerging non-fumigatus Aspergillus species of significance. Mycoses. 2009;52(3):206-22.
Rudramurthy SM, Paul RA, Chakrabarti A, Mouton JW, Meis JF. Invasive Aspergillosis by Aspergillus flavus: Epidemiology, Diagnosis, Antifungal Resistance, and Management. J Fungus [Internet]. 2019; 5(3).
Skiada A, Pagano L, Groll A, Zimmerli S, Dupont B, Lagrou K, et al. Zygomycosis in Europe: analysis of 230 cases accrued by the registry of the European Confederation of Medical Mycology (ECMM) Working Group on Zygomycosis between 2005 and 2007. Clin Microbiol Infect. 2011;17(12):1859-67.
Kalemba D, Kunicka A. Antibacterial and antifungal properties of essential oils. Curr Med Chem. 2003;10(10):813-29.
Mirmiran P, Houshialsadat Z, Gaeini Z, Bahadoran Z, Azizi F. Functional properties of beetroot (Beta vulgaris) in management of cardio-metabolic diseases. Nutr Metab (Lond) [Internet]. 2020 [cited Competing interestsThe authors declare that they have no competing interests. PMC6947971]; 17.
Wang L, Zhang J, Song M, Tian B, Li K, Liang Y, et al. A shell-crosslinked polymeric micelle system for pH/redox dual stimuli-triggered DOX on-demand release and enhanced antitumor activity. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces. 2017;152:1-11.
Chaturvedi S, Gupta P. Functional components in extracts of Beta vulgaris (Chukandar) parts for antioxidant effect and antiobesity potential with lipase inhibition. Food Biosci [Internet]. 2021 2021/06/01/; 41. Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212429221001085.
Ravichandran K, Saw NMMT, Mohdaly AAA, Gabr AMM, Kastell A, Riedel H, et al. Impact of processing of red beet on betalain content and antioxidant activity. Food Res Int. 2013;50(2):670-5.
Sawicki T, Bączek N, Wiczkowski W. Betalain profile, content and antioxidant capacity of red beetroot dependent on the genotype and root part. J Funct Foods. 2016;27:249-61.
Murakami T, Matsuda H, Inadzuki M, Hirano K, Yoshikawa M. Medicinal Foodstuffs. XVI. Sugar Beet. (3) : Absolute Stereostructures of Betavulgarosides II and IV, Hypoglycemic Saponins Having a Unique Substituent, from the Roots of Beta vulgaris L. Chem Pharm Bull. 1999;47(12):1717-24.
Yoshikawa M, Murakami T, Kadoya M, Yamahara J, Matsuda H. Medicinal Foodstuffs. XV. Sugar Beet. (2): Structures of Betavulgarosides V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, and X from the Roots and Leaves of Sugar Beet (Beta vulgaris L., Chenopodiaceae). Chem Inform. 1998;46:1758-63.
Asgary S, Naderi GH, Sarrafzadegan N, Mohammadifard N, Mostafavi S, Vakili R. Antihypertensive and antihyperlipidemic effects of Achillea wilhelmsii. Drugs Exp Clin Res. 2000;26(3):89-93.
Niazmand S, Khooshnood E, Derakhshan M. Effects of Achillea wilhelmsii on rat's gastric acid output at basal, vagotomized, and vagal-stimulated conditions. Pharmacogn Mag. 2010;6(24):282-5.
Thomas L, Bhat A, Cheriyan H, Nirmal Babu K. Value chain development and technology practices of spices crop in India (cardamom, ginger, turmeric, black pepper and cinnamon). In: Pandey PR, Pandey IR, editors. Challenges and Opportunities in Value Chain of Spices in South Asia. Dhaka, Bangaldesh: SAARC Agriculture Centre; 2017. p. 56-115.
Schoch CL, Ciufo S, Domrachev M, Hotton CL, Kannan S, Khovanskaya R, et al. NCBI Taxonomy: a comprehensive update on curation, resources and tools. LID - 10.1093/database/baaa062 [doi] LID - baaa062. (1758-0463 (Electronic)).
Ranasinghe P, Pigera S, Premakumara GS, Galappaththy P, Constantine GR, Katulanda P. Medicinal properties of ‘true’cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum): a systematic review. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2013;13:1-10.
Taguchi Y, Takizawa T, Ishibashi H, Sagawa T, Arai R, Inoue S, et al. Therapeutic effects on murine oral candidiasis by oral administration of cassia (Cinnamomum cassia) preparation. Nip Ish Gakkai Zasshi. 2010;51(1):13-21.
Mozaffarian V. Dictionary of Iranian Plant Names: Latin-English-Persian. Tehran: Farhang Moaser; 1998.
Amin G, Sourmaghi MS, Zahedi M, Khanavi M, Samadi N. Essential oil composition and antimicrobial activity of Oliveria decumbens. Fitoterapia. 2005;76(7-8):704-7.
Karami A, Kavoosi G, Maggi F. The emulsion made with essential oil and aromatic water from Oliveria decumbens protects murine macrophages from LPS-induced oxidation and exerts relevant radical scavenging activities. Biocatal Agric Biotechnol. 2019;17:538-44.
Ahmadi S, Soleimanian-Zad S, Zaeim D. Antibacterial and Antifungal Activity of the Aqueous and Methanolic Extracts and Essential Oils of Red Beets Beta vulgaris Leaves. Zahedan J Res Med Sci. 2020;22(3):e83725.
Amjad L, Mousavidehmourdi K, Rezvani Z. In vitro Study on Antifungal Activity of Achillea wilhelmsii Flower Essential Oil Against Twenty Strains of Candida albicans. Chiang Mai J Sci. 2014;41(5.1):1058-64.
Chahrdoli A, Qalekhani F, Ghowsi M, Nemati H, Shokoohinia Y, Fattahi A. Achillea wilhelmsii C. Koch mediated blood compatible silver nanoparticles. Mater Today Commun [Internet]. 2020 2020/12/01; 25. Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352492820325885.
Femina F, Thabassoom HA, Florence JF. Photocatalytic Reduction of Methyl Orange, Antibacterial and Antibreast Cancer Activities of Biogenic Silver Nanoparticle Synthesized from Beta vulgaris Extract. Asian J Chem. 2021;33(12):2993-8.
Hajimehdipoor H, Samadi N, Mozaffarian V, Rahimifard N, Shoeibi S, Pirali Hamedani M. Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of Oliveria decumbens Volatile Oil from West of Iran. J Med Plant Res. 2010;9(33):39-44.
Kamli MR, Malik MA, Lone SA, Sabir JSM, Mattar EH, Ahmad A. Beta vulgaris Assisted Fabrication of Novel Ag-Cu Bimetallic Nanoparticles for Growth Inhibition and Virulence in Candida albicans. Pharmaceutics [Internet]. 2021; 13(11). Available from: https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/13/11/1957.
Kazemi M, Rostami H. Chemical composition and biological activities of Iranian Achillea wilhelmsii L. essential oil: a high effectiveness against Candida spp. and Escherichia strains. Nat Prod Res. 2015;29(3):286-8.
Mirahmad A, Hafez Ghoran S, Alipour P, Taktaz F, Hassan S, Naderian M, et al. Oliveria decumbens Vent. (Apiaceae): Biological screening and chemical compositions. J Ethnopharmacol [Internet]. 2024 2024/01/10/; 318. Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378874123009212.
Pillai AM, Sivasankarapillai VS, Rahdar A, Joseph J, Sadeghfar F, Anuf A R, et al. Green synthesis and characterization of zinc oxide nanoparticles with antibacterial and antifungal activity. J Mol Struct [Internet]. 2020 2020/07/05/; 1211. Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022286020304324.
Ugwuokpe AL, Onah CM, Nnadi CO, Omeje EO. Evaluation of Antimicrobial and Immunomodulatory Activities of Extract of Beta vulgaris Linn (Chenopodiaceae) Root Tuber. Trop J Nat Prod Res. 2022;6(2):256-9.
Fallah FU, Lotfali EU, Azimi LU, Khodaei HU, Rajabnejad MU, Abdollahi NU, et al.:e136153.
Lotfali EU, Ghasemi RU, Masoumi NU, Molavizadeh DU, Sadeghi SU, Rahmani ZU, et al.:e129169.
Lantz RC, Chen GJ, Sarihan M, Sólyom AM, Jolad SD, Timmermann BN. The effect of extracts from ginger rhizome on inflammatory mediator production. Phytomed 2007;14(2-3):123-8.
Performance standards for antifungal susceptibility testing of yeasts (2017) CLSI supplement M60. 1st ed. 1–12.
Rex JH, Alexander BD, Andes D, Arthington-Skaggs B, Brown SD, Chaturveli V, et al. CLSI 2017 Reference method for broth dilution antifungal susceptibility testing of filamentous fungi. 3rd ed: Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute; 2017.
Cornely OA, Alastruey-Izquierdo A, Arenz D, Chen SCA, Dannaoui E, Hochhegger B, et al. Global guideline for the diagnosis and management of mucormycosis: an initiative of the European Confederation of Medical Mycology in cooperation with the Mycoses Study Group Education and Research Consortium. Lancet Infect Dis. 2019;19(12):405-21.
Laniado-Laborín R, Cabrales-Vargas MN. Amphotericin B: side effects and toxicity. Rev Iberoam Micol. 2009;31(26):223-7.
Faria-Ramos I, Farinha S, Neves-Maia J, Tavares PR, Miranda IM, Estevinho LM, et al. Development of cross-resistance by Aspergillus fumigatus to clinical azoles following exposure to prochloraz, an agricultural azole. BMC Microbiol [Internet]. 2014; 14.
Snelders E, Huis In 't Veld RAG, Rijs AJMM, Kema GHJ, Melchers WJG, Verweij PE. Possible environmental origin of resistance of Aspergillus fumigatus to medical triazoles. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2009;75(12):4053-7.
Vermeulen E, Maertens J, De Bel A, Nulens E, Boelens J, Surmont I, et al. Nationwide Surveillance of Azole Resistance in Aspergillus Diseases. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2015;59(8):4569-76.
Kaduim D, Mahmoud Z, Mousa F. Green Biosynthesis of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles and Testing Their Inhibitory Efficacy Against Some Pathogens. Asian J Water Environ Pollut. 2021;18:119-23.
Amin G, Sourmaghi MH, Zahedi M, Khanavi M, Samadi N. Essential oil composition and antimicrobial activity of Oliveria decumbens. Fitoterapia. 2005;76(7-8):704-7.
Singh HB, Srivastava M, Singh AB, Srivastava AK. Cinnamon bark oil, a potent fungitoxicant against fungi causing respiratory tract mycoses. Allergy. 1995;50(12):995-9.
Hajifathali S, Lesan S, Lotfali E, Salimi-Sabour E, Khatibi M. Investigation of the antifungal effects of curcumin against nystatin-resistant Candida albicans. Dent Res J (Isfahan) [Internet]. 2023 PMC10247873]; 26(20):[50 p.].
- Abstract Viewed: 639 times
- pdf Downloaded: 102 times