The in vitro antifungal activity of
cysteine (D- and
L-cysteine) and its four derivatives (
L-cysteine-methyl-
ester, N-acetyl-
cysteine, N-isobutyryl-D-
cysteine, and
N-isobutyryl-L-cysteine) were investigated on 20 fungal isolates representing 16 genera (Absidia, Actinomucor, Backusella, Gilbertella, Micromucor, Mortierella, Mucor, Mycotypha, Phycomyces, Rhizomucor, Rhizopus, Saksenaea, Syncephalastrum, Thamnostylum, Umbellopsis, and Zygorynchus). The inhibitory potential of different concentrations of these compounds, ranging from 0.625 to 10 mM, were investigated on the germination of sporangiospores as well as on hyphal extension, using broth microdilution method and
agar plate test. Treatment with
cysteine and its derivatives resulted in a strong inhibition in most studied strains.
At 10 mM of compounds, complete blockage of growth was observed for some isolates. Sensitive species exhibited severe changes in colony morphology in the presence of 10 mM
L-cysteine, N-acetyl-
cysteine, and
N-isobutyryl-L-cysteine. Microscopic observations revealed that 10 mM N-acetyl-
cysteine induced dramatic modifications in the structural organization of the hyphae. Results suggest that
cysteine and its derivatives have a therapeutic potential against
fungal infections caused by Zygomycetes species.