RESUMO
Noni (Morinda citrifolia) fruit is a well-known plant used as a traditional medicine for preventing some diseases because of its abundance in chemical compounds. This research aimed to determine the phytochemical concentration, chemical composition, and antifungal activity of M. citrifolia fruit extract. M. citrifolia fruit was extracted with methanol and then distilled water for the partition extract. Subsequently, the extract was fractionated using various nonpolar to polar solutions, such as; chloroform, ethyl acetate, water, 2-propanol, and methanol fractions. Each fraction was evaporated until the dry extract was released. Additionally, the photochemical concentration of the M. citrifolia fruit extract was quantitatively determined using a UV-visible spectrophotometer. The chemical composition of the M. citrifolia fruit extract of each fraction was identified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Then, the antifungal activity of M.citrifolia fruit extract against C. albicans and C. krusei was determined using the disc diffusion method. The results showed that the phytochemical concentration of the M. citrifolia fruit extract was 1970.25 ppm flavonoids, 35.61 ppm tannins, and 148.62 ppm steroids. 2-Fluorobenzoic acid, eucalyptol, 2-chloroaniline-5-sulfonic acid, hexa-decamethyl octasiloxane, and tetra-propyl stannane were found to be the major components of M. citrifolia fruit extract. According to the research, M. citrifolia fruit extract showed antifungal activity against C. albicans and C. krusei in all tested fractions. The maximum inhibition zone of C. albicans was 14.0 ± 1.00 mm in the 2-propanol fraction, while that of C. krusei was 11.7 ± 0.58 mm in the methanol fraction.
RESUMO
Antimicrobial resistance has been increasing globally, posing a global public health risk. It has prompted the scientific community to look for alternatives to traditional drugs. Antimicrobial Peptides (AMPs) have stood out in this context because they have the potential to control infectious diseases while causing no or little harm to mammalian cells. In the present study, three peptides, JcTI-PepI, JcTI-PepII, and JcTI-PepIII, were designed and tested for antimicrobial activity based on the primary sequence of JcTI-I, a 2S albumin with trypsin inhibitory activity from Jatropha curcas. JcTI-PepI strongly inhibited C. krusei growth, and it caused severe disruptions in cellular processes and cell morphology. C. krusei cells treated with JcTI-PepI showed indicative of membrane permeabilization and overproduction of Reactive Oxygen Species. Moreover, the yeast's ability to acidify the medium was severely compromised. JcTI-PepI was also effective against pre-formed biofilm and did not harm human erythrocytes and Vero cells. Overall, these characteristics indicate that JcTI-PepI is both safe and effective against C. krusei, an intrinsically resistant strain that causes serious health problems and is frequently overlooked. It implies that this peptide has a high potential for use as a new antimicrobial agent in the future.