Study of the antifungal activity of ibuprofen and its association with amphotericin B or ketoconazole against Candida spp

Abstract

The objective was evaluating the antifungal activity of ibuprofen alone and when associated with amphotericin B or ketoconazole against Candida species. Strains of C. albicans, C. tropicalis, C. guilliermondii, C. krusei and C. parapsilosis were used. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined by the microdilution method and the association study performed through the checkerboard assay. The concentration of 512 μg/mL inhibited approximately 65% of the tested strains, while against 35% of the strains presented MIC values above 2048 μg/mL. Associations of ibuprofen with amphotericin B against C. tropicalis and ibuprofen with ketoconazole against C. krusei showed synergistic effect. Antagonistic effects were evidenced in the combination of ibuprofen with amphotericin B against C. guilliermondii and C. albicans, as well as in the association of ibuprofen with ketoconazole against C. albicans and C. tropicalis. Through the experiments, it was found that ibuprofen showed antifungal activity against most of the Candida species tested. The combinations of ibuprofen and antifungals had synergistic effects. However, antagonistic results were evidenced in the association with ibuprofen, which would make clinical applicability difficult. Therefore, studies of this combined activity should be investigated, considering that this association may be positive for antifungal therapy