@article{3137883,
    title = "In vitro activity of CAY-1, a saponin from Capsicum frutescens, against
Microsporum and Trichophyton species",
    author = "Stergiopoulou, Theodouli and De Lucca, Anthony J. and Meletiadis, Joseph and and Sein, Tin and Boue, Stephen M. and Schaufele, Robert and Roilides, and Emmanuel and Ghannoum, Mahmoud and Walsh, Thomas J.",
    journal = "Medical Mycology",
    year = "2008",
    volume = "46",
    number = "8",
    pages = "805-810",
    publisher = "LIBRAPHARM/INFORMA HEALTHCARE",
    issn = "1369-3786, 1460-2709",
    doi = "10.1080/13693780802089831",
    keywords = "dermatophytes; Capsicum frutenses; saponin",
    abstract = "Dermatomycoses are among the world’s most common diseases and their
incidence has increased over recent years, particularly in
immunosuppressed patients. In previous studies, the saponin CAY-1 from
cayenne pepper (Capsicum frutescens), has shown antifungal activities
against Candida albicans and Aspergillus spp. We therefore studied the
in vitro antifungal activity of CAY-1 against non-germinating conidia
and hyphae of clinical isolates of the dermatophytes Trichophyton
mentagrophytes, T. rubrum, T. tonsurans and Microsporum canis. We used a
microdilution method to assess the growth inhibitory activities of CAY-1
against conidia (CLSI document M38-A) and a colorimetric procedure (XTT
method) to investigate the metabolic inhibitory activity of CAY-1
against hyphae. The minimal inhibitory concentrations (complete visual
growth inhibition) of CAY-1 against non-germinating conidia ranged from
10-20 g/ml for all dermatophyte isolates included in this investigation.
In addition, we found 90% inhibition of hyphal metabolic activity of
these same isolates with 10-20 g/ml of CAY-1. Results indicate that
CAY-1 merits further investigation as a potential agent for the
treatment of dermatomycoses."
}