Activity of Chlorinated and Methanesulfonated Imidazole Salts Against Candida Sp. Associated With Cancer

Opportunistic infections caused by Candida sp. are frequent in cancer patients due to immunosuppression associated with chemotherapy, radiotherapy and antibiotic use. Several studies suggest that Candida sp. may be involved in pro-carcinogenic processes. Therefore, the search for new antifungal and anticancer compounds is essential. Imidazole salts (IS) are known for structural versatility and biological properties. The objective of this study is to investigate and analyze IS activity against Candida sp. IS C12MImCl, C14MImCl, C16MImCl, C18MImCl and C18MImMeS were evaluated at concentrations of 1024–1 µg/mL, using miconazole 4% in DMSO as control, and strains C. albicans ATCC44858, C. albicans CFP00107, C. albicans CFP00283, C. albicans CFP00292, C. albicans CFP00895, C. glabrata ATCC2001, C. tropicalis CFP00319, C. tropicalis ATCC13803, C. krusei ATCC34135 and C. parapsilosis CFP00893. MIC determination followed CLSI M27-A2 and CLSI M38A protocols using serial dilutions. Results were read at 24 and 48 h. MICs of C14MImCl, C16MImCl, C18MImCl and C18MImMeS were 1 µg/mL for C. albicans CFP00107, CFP00283 and CFP00895. For C12MImCl, MIC ranged 2–8 µg/mL for C. albicans CFP00107, CFP00895, CFP00283, ATCC44858 and C. glabrata ATCC2001. For C. albicans CFP00292, MIC was 32 µg/mL. All IS showed MIC of 1 µg/mL for C. tropicalis CFP00319, C. krusei ATCC34135 and C. parapsilosis CFP00893. MICs of C16MImCl, C18MImCl and C18MImMeS were 1 µg/mL for C. albicans CFP00292, and MIC of C14MImCl was 4 µg/mL. MICs of C14MImCl, C16MImCl and C18MImCl were 1 µg/mL for C. glabrata ATCC2001; MIC of C18MImMeS was 2 µg/mL. All IS showed MIC 1 µg/mL for C. tropicalis ATCC13803. MICs of C16MImCl, C18MImCl and C18MImMeS were 1 µg/mL for C. albicans ATCC44858; C14MImCl MIC was 2 µg/mL. Miconazole MIC ranged 4–8 µg/mL for most strains, except C. krusei ATCC34135 (MIC 32 µg/mL). IS showed strong activity against several Candida spp. isolates, with MICs lower than miconazole. IS demonstrate high potential as antifungal agents and possibly as adjuncts in cancer therapy.