Germination, duplication cycle and septum formation are altered by caffeine, caffeic acid and cinnamic acid in Aspergillus nidulans.

Phenolic and benzene compounds from vegetables have been described as being responsible for many biological activities including antifungal effects. Caffeine, cinnamic and caffeic acids were here investigated for their action on a model fungus, Aspergillus nidulans, at its initial stage of germination. Conidia did not germinate in the presence of (1 mM) cinnamic acid. Caffeine and caffeic acid exerted a negative effect on germination, on the nuclear duplication cycle and on first septum formation. The effects of caffeine were dose-dependent; effects of (1 mM) caffeic acid were more intense than those of (10 mM) caffeine.