Antifungal Properties of Polycephalomyces nipponicus (Ascomycetes) against Candida albicans: Potential for Novel Therapeutic Development

Candida albicans has the potential to turn pathogenic and cause mild to severe infections, particularly in people with weakened immune systems. Novel therapeutics are required due to its morphological alterations, biofilm development, and resistance to antifungal drugs. Polycephalomyces nipponicus, a traditional East Asian medicinal fungus, has shown potential as an antifungal agent. In this study, 15 P. nipponicus isolates were cultivated and their mycelial extracts were evaluated against C. albicans NCYC854 using agar well diffusion, broth microdilution, scanning electron microscope (SEM), and time-kill assays. Eight isolates exhibited significant antifungal activity, with inhibition zones from 11.25 ± 1.50 mm to 18 ± 0.82 mm, notably Cod-MK1209 surpassing amphotericin B. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimum fungicidal concentrations (MFCs) ranged from 125 to 500 μg/mL, with extracts from Cod-MK1206 and Cod-MK1209 showing the lowest MFC at 125 μg/mL. The results of time-kill experiments showed fungistatic effects by drastically lowering viable cell populations at 1ȕ and 2ȕ MIC concentrations within 24 h. The SEM analysis also indicated evidence of degradation to the cellular wall and membrane. These findings highlight the potential of P. nipponicus extracts as powerful antifungal medicines that target C. albicans selectively. Further research efforts have to focus on the identification and description of bioactive components, enhancement of extraction techniques, and advancement towards preclinical and clinical studies to validate their potential for therapeutic use.