Maqui berry extract inhibits filamentation of Candida albicans and improves the antifungal efficacy of nystatin

Candidiasis caused by Candida albicans is one of the most common fungal infections in modern society. The limited arsenal of clinical drugs, their side effects and emerging resistance, largely contribute to the low efficacy of current antifungal therapies. The morphogenetic yeast-to-hyphae transition is the key virulence feature for the establishment of local and systemic C. albicans infections. We show that a delfinidin-rich fruit extract from Aristotelia chilensis ([Molina], Stuntz) (maqui berry) inhibits filamentation of C. albicans, in both laboratory and clinical strains. The extract acts synergistically with nystatin, with filament formation completely prevented by the combination of ¼×MIC of nystatin and 0.125 mg/ml of the extract. The combination treatment results in increased survival of C. albicans-infected zebrafish embryos compared to treatment with nystatin. Neither the extract nor its combination with nystatin was toxic at effective doses. These results warrant further investigation of maqui berry extract as adjuvant antifungal treatment.