Molecular docking of bioactive compounds from Piper plants against secreted aspartyl proteinase of Candida albicans causing oral candidiasis

Oral candidiasis is a common opportunistic fungal infection of the oral cavity caused by Candidaalbicans. A the most serious level, mortality rates of candidiasis are high. Resistance to antimicrobial agents among bacteria and fungi is a persistent problem complicating the management of critically ill patients. In recent years, drug resistance to human pathogenic fungus has been commonly reported from all over the world. Even though pharmaceuticalsectors have produced a number of new antibiotics in the last three decades, resistance to these drugs by microorganisms has increased. Hence, the present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of Piper nigrumand Piper betle against opportunistic pathogen Candida albicans causing oral candidiasis. Totally 55 and 25 compounds were identified from P.nigrum and P.betle respectively. The identified compounds were tested against oral candidiasis causing enzymes by C. albicans through molecular docking and observed Piperine has great potential. The selected compounds from these plants could be utilizedfor thedevelopment of novel drugs against oral candidiasis.