Antifungal activity and mechanism of D-limonene against foodborne opportunistic pathogen Candida tropicalis

Limonene can inhibit the common spoilage fungi in food, but few studies elucidated its antifungal activity and mechanism against Candida tropicalis to date. Therefore, this study aimed to the antifungal activity and mechanism of D-limonene against C. tropicalis. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) of D-limonene against C. tropicalis were 20 mu L/mL and 40 mu L/mL in potato dextrose broth (PDB) medium, respectively. After treatment with D-limonene in PDB medium, the decrease of the potential, the increase of the permeability and the integrity damage of cell membrane indicated the failure of ion transshipment and ATP generation in membrane, the disruption of intracellular ion homeostasis, the leakage of intracellular proteins of C. tropicalis, and thus altering the cell morphology. These results suggest that the Dlimonene has the potential to prevent C. tropicalis contamination in the food industry.

Automated summary

This study demonstrates the antifungal activity of D-limonene against Candida tropicalis by disrupting the cell membrane and intracellular ion homeostasis, suggesting its potential to prevent food contamination.