Anti-candida activity of sodium sulfite.

The growth of Candida albicans in RPMI1640 medium was inhibited by sodium sulfite between pH 3-6. Under the condition of pH 7, growth of C. albicans was not inhibited by sodium sulfite. Under an acidic pH condition, sodium sulfite had a candidacidal effect and the activity was expressed within 150 min. The concentration of ATP in C. albicans was decreased by sodium sulfite. Ethanol production by C. albicans was inhibited by sodium sulfite at pH 5. These results indicated that the candidacidal effect of sodium sulfite under acidic conditions was caused by interruption of alcohol fermentation and aerobic respiration.