{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,15]],"date-time":"2026-10-15T16:16:35Z","timestamp":1792080995265,"version":"4.4.0"},"reference-count":43,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"6","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,1]],"date-time":"2025-06-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1748736000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["JoF"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The incidence of fungal infections is significantly rising, posing a challenge due to the limited class of antifungal drugs. There is a necessity to combat emerging resistant fungal infections by developing novel antifungal agents. This study aimed to evaluate the antifungal effects of lawsone (LAW), a natural component extracted from herbal medicine, and LAW-loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles (LAW-MSNs) on growth, biofilm formation, and expression of ALS1 and EPA1 genes contributing to cell adhesion of Candida spp. Twenty C. albicans and twenty C. glabrata isolates, including ten fluconazole-resistant and ten fluconazole-susceptible isolates, were examined. The findings of the study indicated that LAW and LAW-MSNs inhibited Candida isolates growth at MIC range of 0.31\u2013&gt;5 \u00b5g\/mL and significantly reduced biofilm formation in C.\u00a0albicans and C. glabrata. Moreover, both LAW and LAW-MSNs downregulated the expression of the adhesion genes ALS1 and EPA1 in C. albicans and C. glabrata. Based on the obtained findings, LAW emerged as a promising antifungal candidate. However, the nano-formulation (LAW-MSNs) improved its antifungal properties.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/jof11060427","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,2]],"date-time":"2025-06-02T10:21:49Z","timestamp":1748859709000},"page":"427","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["Exploring the Antifungal Potential of Lawsone-Loaded Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles Against Candida albicans and Candida glabrata: Growth Inhibition and Biofilm Disruption"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"11","author":[{"given":"Fatemeh","family":"Nikoomanesh","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Infectious Disease Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand 9717853577, Iran"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mahsa","family":"Sedighi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Medical Nanotechnology Department, Breast Cancer Research Center, Motamed Cancer Institute, ACECR, Tehran 1517964311, Iran"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mahdi Mahmmoodi","family":"Bourang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Student Research Committee, Birjand University of Medical University, Birjand 9717853076, Iran"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mitra","family":"Rafiee","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand 9717853076, Iran"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0821-8592","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Andr\u00e9 Luis Souza dos","family":"Santos","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laborat\u00f3rio de Estudos Avan\u00e7ados de Microrganismos Emergentes e Resistentes, Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de G\u00f3es, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941901, RJ, Brazil"},{"name":"Rede Micologia RJ\u2014FAPERJ, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de G\u00f3es, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941901, RJ, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Maryam","family":"Roudbary","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Sydney Infectious Diseases Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia"},{"name":"Westmead Hospital, NSW Health, Sydney, NSW 2145, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,1]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Galocha, M., Pais, P., Cavalheiro, M., Pereira, D., Viana, R., and Teixeira, M.C. (2019). Divergent Approaches to Virulence in C. albicans and C. glabrata: Two Sides of the Same Coin. Int. J. Mol. Sci., 20.","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms20092345"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e02769-17","DOI":"10.1128\/AEM.02769-17","article-title":"Relative Abundances of Candida albicans and Candida glabrata in In Vitro Coculture Biofilms Impact Biofilm Structure and Formation","volume":"84","author":"Olson","year":"2018","journal-title":"Appl. Environ. Microbiol."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1569","DOI":"10.1093\/jac\/dkad139","article-title":"Invasive Candidiasis: Current Clinical Challenges and Unmet Needs in Adult Populations","volume":"78","author":"Soriano","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Antimicrob. Chemother."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"100625","DOI":"10.1016\/j.mmcr.2023.100625","article-title":"Biliary Co-Infection by Multidrug-Resistant Candida Glabrata and Candida Albicans in a Case of Pancreatic Cancer with Cholangitis: A Case Report and Review of Literature","volume":"43","author":"Sadeghi","year":"2024","journal-title":"Med. Mycol. Case Rep."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"421","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1600-0714.2010.00981.x","article-title":"Candida glabrata and Candida albicans Co-Infection of an in Vitro Oral Epithelium","volume":"40","author":"Silva","year":"2011","journal-title":"J. Oral. Pathol. Med."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"692","DOI":"10.1111\/myc.12946","article-title":"Epidemiology and Antifungal Susceptibility Patterns of Candida Isolates from Greek Women with Vulvovaginal Candidiasis","volume":"62","author":"Maraki","year":"2019","journal-title":"Mycoses"},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Costa-de-Oliveira, S., and Rodrigues, A.G. (2020). Candida albicans Antifungal Resistance and Tolerance in Bloodstream Infections: The Triad Yeast-Host-Antifungal. Microorganisms, 8.","DOI":"10.3390\/microorganisms8020154"},{"key":"ref_8","first-page":"31","article-title":"Prevalence and Antifungal Drug Resistance of Nosocomial Candida Species Isolated from Two University Hospitals in Egypt","volume":"7","author":"Yossef","year":"2021","journal-title":"Curr. Med. Mycol."},{"key":"ref_9","unstructured":"World Health Organization (2022). WHO Fungal Priority Pathogens List to Guide Research, Development and Public Health Action, World Health Organization."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"fov111","DOI":"10.1093\/femsyr\/fov111","article-title":"Biofilm Formation in Candida glabrata: What Have We Learnt from Functional Genomics Approaches?","volume":"16","author":"Janbon","year":"2016","journal-title":"FEMS Yeast Res."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"109","DOI":"10.1038\/nrmicro2475","article-title":"Genetic Control of Candida albicans Biofilm Development","volume":"9","author":"Finkel","year":"2011","journal-title":"Nat. Rev. Microbiol."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"22","DOI":"10.18869\/modares.iem.2.1.22","article-title":"Investigation of Bcr1 Gene Expression in Candida albicans Isolates by RT-PCR Technique and Its Impact on Biofilm Formation","volume":"2","author":"Nikoomanesh","year":"2016","journal-title":"Infect. Epidemiol. Med."},{"key":"ref_13","unstructured":"dos Santos, A.L.S., Barnquinha, M.H., and Roudbary, M. (2022). New Aspect of Candida Spp. fections. In The Book of Fungal Pathogens, Nova Science Publishers, Inc."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"51","DOI":"10.1016\/j.biomed.2012.12.004","article-title":"Study of Candida albicans and Its Interactions with the Host: A Mini Review","volume":"3","author":"Tsai","year":"2013","journal-title":"Biomedicine"},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"44","DOI":"10.1080\/09674845.2016.1155269","article-title":"Antifungal Effect of Echinophora Platyloba on Expression of CDR1 and CDR2 Genes in Fluconazole-Resistant Candida albicans","volume":"37","author":"Khajeh","year":"2016","journal-title":"Br. J. Biomed. Sci."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Nikoomanesh, F., Falahatinejad, M., \u010cern\u00e1kov\u00e1, L., Dos Santos, A.L.S., Roudbar Mohammadi, S.H., Rafiee, M., Rodrigues, C.F., and Roudbary, M. (2023). Combination of Farnesol with Common Antifungal Drugs: Inhibitory Effect against Candida Species Isolated from Women with RVVC. Med. B Aires, 59.","DOI":"10.20944\/preprints202301.0087.v1"},{"key":"ref_17","first-page":"275","article-title":"Investigated Inhibitory Effect of Aqueous Extract of Pistachio Leaf (Pistacia Atlantica) on Isolates of Pathogenic Escherichia coli and Candida albicans from Urinary and Vaginal Samples","volume":"29","author":"Ghasemi","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. Birjand Univ. Med. Sci."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"100644","DOI":"10.1016\/j.hermed.2023.100644","article-title":"Antifungal Activity of Thymus Kotschyanus Extract: An in Vitro Study on the Expression of CDR1, CDR2 Genes in Clinical Isolates of Candida albicans","volume":"38","author":"Roudbary","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Herb. Med."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Nouri, N., Mohammadi, S.R., Beardsley, J., Aslani, P., Ghaffarifar, F., Roudbary, M., and Rodrigues, C.F. (2023). Thymoquinone Antifungal Activity against Candida glabrata Oral Isolates from Patients in Intensive Care Units-An In Vitro Study. Metabolites, 13.","DOI":"10.3390\/metabo13040580"},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"80","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jep.2014.05.042","article-title":"Lawsonia inermis L. (Henna): Ethnobotanical, Phytochemical and Pharmacological Aspects","volume":"155","author":"Semwal","year":"2014","journal-title":"J. Ethnopharmacol."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"105123","DOI":"10.1016\/j.chemphyslip.2021.105123","article-title":"Preparation, Physicochemical Characterization, and Anti-Proliferative Properties of Lawsone-Loaded Solid Lipid Nanoparticles","volume":"239","author":"Rasouliyan","year":"2021","journal-title":"Chem. Phys. Lipids"},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"419","DOI":"10.1016\/j.mycmed.2018.05.012","article-title":"Comparison of the Effects of Lawsonia Inermis (Iranian Henna), Clotrimazole on Candida albicans in Rats","volume":"28","author":"Yaralizadeh","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Mycol. Med."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"270","DOI":"10.1016\/j.medmal.2012.05.002","article-title":"Antibacterial and Antifungal Activity of Lawsone and Novel Naphthoquinone Derivatives","volume":"42","author":"Rahmoun","year":"2012","journal-title":"Med. Mal. Infect."},{"key":"ref_24","first-page":"196","article-title":"Antifungal Activity of Lawsonia Inermis L. (Henna) Against Clinical Candida Isolates","volume":"10","year":"2017","journal-title":"Erzincan Univ. J. Sci. Technol."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"628","DOI":"10.1016\/j.mycmed.2018.07.009","article-title":"Synthesis, Characterization and Antifungal Activity of a Novel Formulated Nanocomposite Containing Indolicidin and Graphene Oxide against Disseminated Candidiasis","volume":"28","author":"Farzanegan","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Mycol. Med."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"5323","DOI":"10.2147\/IJN.S207527","article-title":"Antifungal Effects of Indolicidin-Conjugated Gold Nanoparticles against Fluconazole-Resistant Strains of Candida albicans Isolated from Patients with Burn Infection","volume":"17","author":"Rahimi","year":"2019","journal-title":"Int. J. Nanomed."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"64","DOI":"10.1080\/21691401.2018.1543193","article-title":"Design and Synthesis of Mucoadhesive Nanogel Containing Farnesol: Investigation of the Effect on HWP1, SAP6 and Rim101 Genes Expression of Candida albicans in Vitro","volume":"47","author":"Nikoomanesh","year":"2019","journal-title":"Artif. Cells Nanomed. Biotechnol."},{"key":"ref_28","first-page":"337","article-title":"Using Single Multiplex PCR Reaction to Identify Candida Species in Vaginal Isolates: Comparison between Phenotypic and Molecular Methods","volume":"8","author":"Ghasemi","year":"2020","journal-title":"Infect. Epidemiol. Microbiol."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"239","DOI":"10.1021\/acsabm.9b00772","article-title":"Controlled Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Delivery to Liver Cancer Cells by Gate-Capped Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles","volume":"3","author":"Sedighi","year":"2020","journal-title":"ACS Appl. Bio. Mater."},{"key":"ref_30","unstructured":"(2017). Reference Method for Broth Dilution Antifungal Susceptibility Testing of Yeasts; Approved Standard-Third Edition (Standard No. CLSI M27-A3)."},{"key":"ref_31","unstructured":"(2017). Reference Method for Broth Dilution Antifungal Susceptibility Testing of Yeasts; Fourth Informational Supplement (Standard No. CLSI M27-S4)."},{"key":"ref_32","first-page":"477","article-title":"Suscetibilidade de Candida Spp. Isoladas de Hemocultivos, Avaliadas Pelos Breakpoints Dos Documentos M27-A3 e M27-S4 Do CLSI","volume":"56","author":"Hernandez","year":"2014","journal-title":"Rev. Inst. Med. Trop. Sao Paulo"},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"249","DOI":"10.1007\/s12298-015-0285-3","article-title":"Antiproliferative Apoptosis Inducing Effects of Non-Polar Fractions from Lawsonia Inermis L. in Cervical (HeLa) Cancer Cells","volume":"21","author":"Kumar","year":"2015","journal-title":"Physiol. Mol. Biol. Plants"},{"key":"ref_34","first-page":"45","article-title":"The effect of acetone extract of moringa peregrina on trichomonas vaginalis, Candida albicans and macrophage cells in vitro","volume":"23","author":"Ebrahimi","year":"2018","journal-title":"Sci. J. Kurdistan Univ. Med. Sci."},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"229","DOI":"10.52547\/iem.7.3.4","article-title":"In-Vitro Antifungal Activity of Nano Encapsulated Caprylic Acid and EFG1 Gene Expression Profile in Candida albicans","volume":"7","author":"Zarimeidani","year":"2021","journal-title":"Infect. Epidemiol. Microbiol."},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.29252\/cmm.3.2.1","article-title":"In Vitro Antifungal Activity of Essential Oils Extracted from Plants against Fluconazole-Susceptible and -Resistant Candida albicans","volume":"3","author":"Katiraee","year":"2017","journal-title":"Curr. Med. Mycol."},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"11","DOI":"10.1007\/s40199-018-0207-3","article-title":"Lawsone-Loaded Niosome and Its Antitumor Activity in MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cell Line: ANano-Herbal Treatment for Cancer","volume":"26","author":"Barani","year":"2018","journal-title":"DARU J. Pharm. Sci."},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Nawasrah, A., Al Nimr, A., and Ali, A.A. (2016). Antifungal Effect of Henna against Candida albicans Adhered to Acrylic Resin as a Possible Method for Prevention of Denture Stomatitis. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 13.","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph13050520"},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"8","DOI":"10.14419\/ijdr.v1i1.1157","article-title":"Comparison of Anticandidal Activity of Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) and Lawsonia Inermis (Henna Leaves): An in-Vitro Study","volume":"1","author":"Singla","year":"2013","journal-title":"Int. J. Dent. Res."},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Navarro-Tovar, G., Vega-Rodr\u00edguez, S., Leyva, E., Loredo-Carrillo, S., de Loera, D., and L\u00f3pez-L\u00f3pez, L.I. (2023). The Relevance and Insights on 1,4-Naphthoquinones as Antimicrobial and Antitumoral Molecules: A Systematic Review. Pharmaceuticals, 16.","DOI":"10.3390\/ph16040496"},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"435","DOI":"10.1038\/s41392-023-01654-7","article-title":"Multifunctional Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications","volume":"8","author":"Xu","year":"2023","journal-title":"Signal Transduct. Target. Ther."},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1700831","DOI":"10.1002\/adhm.201700831","article-title":"Mesoporous Silica and Organosilica Nanoparticles: Physical Chemistry, Biosafety, Delivery Strategies, and Biomedical Applications","volume":"7","author":"Croissant","year":"2018","journal-title":"Adv. Healthc. Mater."},{"key":"ref_43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2","DOI":"10.1186\/s13613-015-0103-7","article-title":"Systemic Antifungal Therapy for Proven or Suspected Invasive Candidiasis: The AmarCAND 2 Study","volume":"6","author":"Leroy","year":"2016","journal-title":"Ann. Intensive Care"}],"container-title":["Journal of Fungi"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2309-608X\/11\/6\/427\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,9]],"date-time":"2025-10-09T17:45:31Z","timestamp":1760031931000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2309-608X\/11\/6\/427"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,1]]},"references-count":43,"journal-issue":{"issue":"6","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,6]]}},"alternative-id":["jof11060427"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/jof11060427","relation":{},"ISSN":["2309-608X"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2309-608X","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,1]]}}}