NYMC Faculty Publications
Brief Primer on the Discovery of New Antifungal Drugs From Plant Sources
Author Type(s)
Faculty
DOI
10.1007/s11046-025-01009-6
Journal Title
Mycopathologia
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
12-1-2025
Department
Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology
Keywords
Benzyl isothiocyanate, Candida albicans, Drug resistance, Plant antifungals, Translational research
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences
Abstract
Rationale: The antifungal armamentarium is shrinking while resistance to licensed agents rises. Historically, actinomycetes and fungi delivered nystatin, amphotericin B, griseofulvin and the echinocandin scaffold, yet plant-derived compounds—despite potent in-vitro activity—have rarely reached the clinic. Objective: To frame the recent in-vivo success of papaya-seed essential oil against fluconazole-sensitive and -resistant Candida albicans within the broader context of plant-based antifungal discovery, and to propose rigorous criteria that can accelerate translation, especially considering varying resource settings. Key Points: Commentary on Ma et al. (Mycopathologia 190(5):1–14, 2025) showing that benzyl-isothiocyanate-rich papaya-seed oil outperforms fluconazole in a murine systemic candidiasis model without acute toxicity; Historical perspective on how soil microbes provided the first broad-spectrum antifungals; An eight-point checklist for future plant-extract studies, with essential and suggested elements to promote high-quality research across different laboratory settings. Conclusion: Adherence to core methodological standards, along with suggested advanced analyses where feasible, will help identify promising plant-derived antifungal leads and support a more inclusive and effective discovery pipeline.
Recommended Citation
Song, Y., & Chaturvedi, V. (2025). Brief Primer on the Discovery of New Antifungal Drugs From Plant Sources. Mycopathologia, 190 (6). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11046-025-01009-6
