Natural Compounds with Antimicrobial Activities in Oral Candida Infections during Head and Neck Radiotherapy.

Elena Imperia, Graziana Bonincontro, Annamaria Altomare, Giovanna Simonetti, Giovanni Gherardi, Elisa Brasili, Camilla Badiali, Manuela Bove, Gabriella Pasqua, Laura De Gara, Michele Cicala, Michele Pier Luca Guarino

Journal: Chemotherapy 2024;69(2):65-84

PMID: 37963442

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Abstract

BACKGROUND

Oral colonization and infections are frequently observed in patients during and soon after radiation therapy. Infective mucositis is a common side effect associated with cancer therapy, characterized by an inflammation of the oral mucous membranes with histological mucosal and submucosal changes. Ulcerative mucositis is responsible for significant pain, impairing the patient's nutritional intake and leading to local or systemic infections promoting mycosis due to several species of the genus Candida. According to international guidelines, treatment of candidiasis depends on the infection site and patient's condition.

SUMMARY

Recently, several studies have shown the protective role of natural compounds counteracting the activity of Candida biofilms. The aim of this review was to discuss the antimicrobial activities of natural compounds in fungal infections, especially Candida spp., during and soon after radiotherapy. Indeed new molecules are being discovered and assessed for their capacity to control Candida spp. growth and, probably in the future, will be used to treat oral candidiasis, overall, during radiotherapy. This review reports several preliminary data about preclinical and clinical evidence of their efficacy in the prevention and/or treatment of mucositis due to radiotherapy with a brief description of the natural compounds with anti-Candida activities.

KEY MESSAGES

The increase in the resistance to the available antifungal drugs related to Candida spp. infections increased as well as drug interactions, urging the development of innovative and more effective agents with antifungal action. Recent preclinical and clinical studies are identifying natural substances with anti-inflammatory and antifungal activity that could be tested in the prevention of candidiasis in patients undergoing radiotherapy. Further studies are needed to confirm these preliminary data.

Address: Department of Science and Technology for Sustainable Development and One Health, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Rome, Italy.; Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.; Research Unit of Gastroenterology, Università Campus Bio-medico di Roma, Rome, Italy.; Clinical Laboratory Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy.; Applied Microbiological Science Unit, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Rome, Italy.; Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche URT DSFTM-DISBA at Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Rome, Italy.; Operative Research Unit of Gastroenterology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy.

DOI: 10.1159/000534562

Link outs

Free resources

Full Text Sources:

https://doi.org/10.1159/000534562

Medical:

https://medlineplus.gov/headandneckcancer.html

Miscellaneous:

https://assays.cancer.gov/CPTAC-1612

MeSH Terms: Humans, Antifungal Agents, Candidiasis, Oral, Head and Neck Neoplasms, Candida, Biological Products, Biofilms