Effect of psychotropic drugs on germ tube formation in the yeasts

Abstract

Effect of three psychotropic drugs viz., barbiturate (phenobarbitone), benzodiazepine (diazepam), non-benzodiazepine or Z-drugs (zolpidem) on germ tube formation was examined in Candida tropicalis, Rhodotorula mucilaginosa, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. All the three drugs exhibited inhibitory effect on germ tube formation in the pathogenic yeast C. tropicalis though with variable degrees zolpidem being the least effective and barbiturate the most effective one. Other two yeasts being non germ tube forming ones did not show any effect. They served as control. Germ tube formation is regarded as a pathogenic trait associated with yeast-hyphae switch. The psychotropic drugs thus show antimicrobial activity.