Baicalin prevents Candida albicans infections via increasing its apoptosis rate

•Baicalin increases the ratio of the G0/G1 stages and C. albicans apoptosis.•Baicalin decreases the proliferation index of C. albicans.•Baicalin inhibits the biosynthesis of DNA, RNA and protein in C. albicans.•Baicalin depresses Succinate Dehydrogenase and Ca2+–Mg2+ ATPase in C. albicans.•Baicalin increases the endocytic free Ca2+ concentration in C. albicans. These experiments were employed to explore the mechanisms underlying baicalin action on Candida albicans. We detected the baicalin inhibition effects on three isotope-labeled precursors of 3H-UdR, 3H-TdR and 3H-leucine incorporation into C. albicans using the isotope incorporation technology. The activities of Succinate Dehydrogenase (SDH), cytochrome oxidase (CCO) and Ca2+–Mg2+ ATPase, cytosolic Ca2+ concentration, the cell cycle and apoptosis, as well as the ultrastructure of C.albicans were also tested. We found that baicalin inhibited 3H-UdR, 3H-TdR and 3H-leucine incorporation into C.albicans (P