ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the main chemical constituents of the low polarity extracts from pinusmassoniana Lamb. leaves and their synergetic activity with fluconazole against fluconazole-resistant Candida albicans. Methods The pinusmassoniana leaves were extracted with 80% ethanol, and then the extracts were extracted by petroleum ether to obtain the low polarity extracts. The chemical components were detected by GC-MS and elucidated by the comparison with the standard mass spectral data. The relative contents in percentage were calculated using the area normalization method. The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC80) of fluconazole-resistant Candida albicans strains by the low polarity extracts in combination with fluconazole were determined by checkerboard microdilution assay. Results 30 components were detected from the low polarity extracts, and 17 components were identified. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC80) of the 80% ethanol extracts, the low polarity extracts and the petroleum ether extracts from the pinusmassoniana leaves combined with fluconazole against fluconazole-resistant Candida albicans were 7.81 μg/ml, 31.25 μg/ml and >250 μg/ml, respectively. Conclusion The 80% ethanol extracts of pinusmassoniana leaves and its low polarity extracts have synergistic activity combined with fluconazole onfluconazole-resistant Candida albicans. The diterpenoids (53.99%) may be the effective components of the low polarity extracts.