In the present study, we have investigated the antifungal effects of a natural
polyphenol, CUR (
curcumin), against albicans and non-albicans species of Candida and have shown its ability to inhibit the growth of all the tested strains. The inhibitory effects of CUR were independent of the status of the multidrug efflux pump
proteins belonging to either
ABC transporter (
ATP-binding cassette transporter) or MFS (major facilitator) superfamilies of transporters. By using a systemic murine model of
infection, we established that CUR and
piperine, when administered together, caused a significant fungal load reduction (1.4log10) in kidneys of Swiss mice. Additionally, CUR raised the levels of ROS (
reactive oxygen species), which, as revealed by
annexin V-FITC labelling, triggered early apoptosis in Candida cells. Coincident with the raised ROS levels, mRNAs of tested oxidative stress-related genes [
CAP1 (Candida albicans AP-1), CaIPF7817 (putative
NADH-dependent
flavin oxidoreductase), SOD2 (
superoxide dismutase 2), GRP2 (
NADPH-dependent methyl
glyoxal reductase) and CAT1 (
catalase 1)] were also elevated. The growth inhibitory effects of CUR could be reversed by the addition of natural and synthetic
antioxidants. Notably, independent of ROS status,
polyphenol CUR prevented hyphae development in both liquid and solid hypha-inducing media by targeting the global suppressor TUP1 (
thymidine uptake 1). Taken together, our results provide the first evidence that CUR acts as an
antifungal agent, via generation of oxidative stress, and inhibits hyphae development by targeting TUP1.