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Undecylenic Acid










- Description
Undecylenic acid is a substance that can stop the growth of fungi, but if exposed to high amounts for a long time, it can actually kill them. It works well against a harmful yeast called Candida albicans. The way it fights against these organisms is by interacting with certain parts of their outer layer.
Candida albicans can have two different forms: a round yeast form and a filamentous form with long, thread-like structures called hyphae. The filamentous form is linked to more severe infections. Researchers found that undecylenc acid can prevent the formation of biofilms (a protective layer made by the yeast) when its concentration is higher than 3 mM. It also disrupts the growth of the harmful hyphae at concentrations above 4 mM. By doing so, it reduces the activity of specific genes related to hyphae formation, like HWP1, leading to weaker biofilm formation.
Both biofilms and hyphae are essential for the yeast to cause infections on the skin and spread throughout the body. Undecylenc acid also affects the enzymes that are responsible for lipid metabolism, and it changes the pH inside the yeast cells by moving protons across their outer layer. These actions further contribute to inhibiting the growth and spread of Candida albicans.
In simpler terms, undecylenic acid is a substance that can stop the growth of harmful yeast. It works by disrupting their protective layer and preventing them from forming long thread-like structures. This helps to reduce their ability to cause infections on the skin and throughout the body.