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Updated: Jun 25, 2025
Measuring Volatile and Non-volatile Antifungal Activity of Biocontrol Products
Published on: December 5, 2020
Natural Substances as Valuable Alternative for Improving Conventional Antifungal Chemotherapy: Lights and Shadows
Juan Carlos Argüelles1, Ruth Sánchez-Fresneda1, Alejandra Argüelles1
1Área de Microbiología, Facultad Biología, University Murcia, Campus Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
Abstract:
Fungi are eukaryotic organisms with relatively few pathogenic members dangerous for humans, usually acting as opportunistic infections. In the last decades, several life-threatening fungal infections have risen mostly associated with the worldwide extension of chronic diseases and immunosuppression. The available antifungal therapies cannot combat this challenge because the arsenal of compounds is scarce and displays low selective action, significant adverse effects, and increasing resistance. A growing isolation of outbreaks triggered by fungal species formerly considered innocuous is being recorded. From ancient times, natural substances harvested from plants have been applied to folk medicine and some of them recently emerged as promising antifungals. The most used are briefly revised herein. Combinations of chemotherapeutic drugs with natural products to obtain more efficient and gentle treatments are also revised. Nevertheless, considerable research work is still necessary before their clinical use can be generally accepted. Many natural products have a highly complex chemical composition, with the active principles still partially unknown. Here, we survey the field underlying lights and shadows of both groups. More studies involving clinical strains are necessary, but we illustrate this matter by discussing the potential clinical applications of combined carnosic acid plus propolis formulations.
Insights
Natural antifungals show promise against rising fungal infections, but more research is needed. Combining plant-derived compounds like carnosic acid and propolis may offer gentler, more effective treatments for opportunistic fungal diseases.
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Pharmacology
- Natural Products Chemistry
Background:
- Life-threatening fungal infections are increasing due to chronic diseases and immunosuppression.
- Current antifungal therapies are limited by scarcity, low selectivity, adverse effects, and rising resistance.
- Fungal species previously considered harmless are now causing significant outbreaks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the potential of natural substances as antifungal agents.
- To explore the combination of natural products with chemotherapeutic drugs for enhanced treatments.
- To discuss the clinical applications and challenges of natural antifungals, focusing on carnosic acid and propolis.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of plant-derived compounds with antifungal properties.
- Analysis of studies combining natural products with conventional antifungal drugs.
- Case illustration of combined carnosic acid and propolis formulations for clinical application.
Main Results:
- Several plant-derived natural products show promise as antifungal agents.
- Combinations of natural products and chemotherapeutics may lead to more effective and safer treatments.
- Carnosic acid and propolis formulations present potential for clinical use against fungal infections.
Conclusions:
- Natural products offer a promising avenue for combating challenging fungal infections.
- Further research, including studies with clinical strains, is essential for the acceptance of natural antifungals.
- Combined therapies, such as carnosic acid plus propolis, warrant further investigation for their clinical efficacy and safety.
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