Master of Science
Kawisara Konsila
Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, 254 Phaya Thai Rd, Wang Mai, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Title: The effect of a candidate bioactive compound from propolis extracts of stingless bee Geniotrigona thoracica on cell membrane of pathogenic yeast Malassezia globosa
Kawisara Konsila1, Wanchai Assavalapsakul2, Preecha Phuwapraisirisan3, and Chanpen Chanchao4
1Program in Biotechnology, 2Department of Microbiology, 3Department of Chemistry, and 4Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, BKK 10330, Thailand
Malassezia globosa is an opportunistic pathogenic yeast implicating in a spectrum of chronic dermatological conditions. The limited efficacy and adverse effects associated with currently available antifungal agents, particularly azole-based therapies, highlight the need for alternative treatment. Accordingly, propolis, a natural product with well-established antimicrobial properties, was investigated as a prospective source of antifungal constituents against M. globosa. In this study, bioassay-guided isolation was conducted on propolis collected from the stingless bee Geniotrigona thoracica. Among the tested extracts, the crude methanolic fraction demonstrated the highest inhibitory activity. Subsequently, chemical analysis by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) identified methyl gallate (MG) as a candidate active compound with an IC₅₀ value of 0.98 mM. As the antifungal mechanism of MG against M. globosa had not been previously characterized, its impact on cell membrane integrity, a common target of commercial antifungals, was evaluated. The effect of MG on M. globosa membrane permeability was examined by using spectrophotometric assays to measure extracellular leakage of proteins, nucleic acids, and fructose-1,6-diphosphate (FDP) and using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to analyze morphological change. The results demonstrate that MG exerts antifungal activity by compromising the membrane integrity of M. globosa, showing increased leakage of proteins, nucleic acids, and FDP and revealed surface damage after 9 hours of exposure. This study highlights MG as a promising lead compound against Malassezia infection, while further investigations to elucidate its precise mechanism of action and therapeutic potential should be implemented.
Biography of the presenting author
Miss Kawisara Konsila is a PhD candidate in Program in Biotechnology, Faculty of Science at Chulalongkorn University. Her research of interest involves in finding bioactive compounds from nature products, especially bee products, providing antimicrobial activity. Currently, she’s interested in cooperating high-throughput omics technology into her research to obtain more insight information.
Presenting author details
Full name: Miss Kawisara Konsila
Contact number: +66810227685
Email: Kawisara.ks23@gmail.com
ORCID: 0009-0002-4050-4038
Scopus ID: 58718908000
Session name/ number: Agricultural Biotechnology/ 2
Category: Oral presen