Quinalizarin as a potential antifungal drug for the treatment of Candida albicans fungal infection in cancer patients

This study aims to analyze the antifungal properties of quinalizarin, a plant-derived compound with proven anticancer effects. Quinalizarin exhibited antifungal activity against opportunistic pathogenic Candida species and Geotrichum capitatum. The treatment with this anthraquinone reduced hyphal growth, inhibited biofilm formation, and damaged mature Candida albicans biofilms. Real-time RT-PCR revealed that quinalizarin downregulated the expression of hyphae-related and biofilm-specific genes. The flow cytometry method used in the study showed that both apoptosis and necrosis were the physiological mechanisms of quinalizarin-induced C. albicans cell death, depending on the dose of the antifungal agent. A further study revealed an increase in the levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species and alterations in mitochondrial membrane potential after treatment with quinalizarin. Finally, quinalizarin was found to have low toxicity in a hemolytic test using human erythrocytes. In conclusion, we have identified quinalizarin as a potential antifungal compound.