Capacity of Candida species to produce acetaldehyde at various concentrations of alcohol

BACKGROUND: Along with tobacco use, alcohol consumption is one of the crucial factors for oral cancer. Acetaldehyde (ACH), a byproduct of alcohol, is reported as carcinogenic. One of the producers of ACH from alcohol is Candida species. The aim of the study was to quantify the ACH produced by Candida species at various concentrations of alcohol. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinical isolates of Candida, namely Candida albicans, Candida krusei and Candida tropicalis and C. albicans ATCC 18,804, were subjected to various concentrations of alcohol. Alcohol dehydrogenase and ACH were estimated using spectrophotometry and headspace gas chromatography, respectively. RESULTS: Out of all three clinical isolates, C. tropicalis produced more ACH (412.1 μM) at 10 mM alcohol concentration by 10(5)colony-forming unit/ml followed by C. albicans (233 μM) and C. krusei (53.7 μM). C. albicans of clinical isolate and ATCC species (222 μM) did not show much difference. CONCLUSION: The study results conclude that Candida species are capable of producing carcinogenic levels of ACH on exposure to various concentrations of alcohol.