Influence of Eugenia uniflora Extract on Adhesion to Human Buccal Epithelial Cells, Biofilm Formation, and Cell Surface Hydrophobicity of Candida spp. from the Oral Cavity of Kidney Transplant Recipients

This study evaluated the influence of the extract of in adhesion to human buccal epithelial cells (HBEC) biofilm formation and cell surface hydrophobicity (CSH) of spp. isolated from the oral cavity of kidney transplant patients. To evaluate virulence attributes in vitro, nine yeasts were grown in the presence and absence of 1000 μg/mL of the extract. Adhesion was quantified using the number of cells adhered to 150 HBEC determined by optical microscope. Biofilm formation was evaluated using two methodologies: XTT (2,3-bis(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2 -tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide) and crystal violet assay, and further analyzed by electronic scan microscopy. CSH was quantified with the microbial adhesion to hydrocarbons test. We could detect that the extract of was able to reduce adhesion to HBEC and CSH for both and non- species. We also observed a statistically significant reduced ability to form biofilms in biofilm-producing strains using both methods of quantification. However, two highly biofilm-producing strains of had a very large reduction in biofilm formation. This study reinforces the idea that besides growth inhibition, may interfere with the expression of some virulence factors of spp. and may be possibly applied in the future as a novel antifungal agent.