Progresses of plant-derived natural products against Candida albicans biofilm

Candida albicans (C. albicans) is the most prevalent conditionally pathogenic fungus implicated in clinical fungal infections. The formation of biofilms is a critical contributor to the pathogenicity of C. albicans, facilitating its invasion and the subsequent spread of infection. Biofilm-associated C. albicans exhibits reduced susceptibility to commonly used antifungal agents, leading to prolonged treatment durations, high rates of recurrence, and the emergence of drug resistance. Consequently, the development of antifungals that are both low in toxicity and effective in inhibiting biofilm formation is of paramount importance. Plant-derived natural products have emerged as a vital resource for drug discovery, owing to their diverse chemical structures and myriad biological activities. In this review, we provide a comprehensive summary of plant-derived natural products with demonstrated anti-biofilm activity against C. albicans, as reported over the past five years. This includes an examination of various classes of compounds such as alkaloids, polyphenols, terpenes, quinones, organic acids, and essential oils, thereby offering insights that may advance the development of novel anti-fungal therapeutics targeting C. albicans.