Table 7 Significantly expressed oral metabolites with antifungal properties across study groups.

Fatty acids (FA)

Linoleamide

Inhibits Candida hyphal growth, serves as a signaling molecule to reduce inflammation in host⁸⁸

Palmitic amide

Mimics farnesol and interferes quorum sensing, causes biofilm and hyphal inhibition⁸⁹

Stearamide

Compromises cell membrane integrity, causes disintegration of fungal cells⁹⁰

undecan-2-one

Disrupts cell wall and membrane structures, causes intracellular lysate leakage and induction of oxidative stress⁷⁷

Glycerolipid (GL)

1-monopalmitin

Disrupts the function of Candida cell membrane⁹¹

Carboxylic acids (CA) and derivatives

Dichloroacetate

Inhibits glycolysis by affecting the regulation of pyruvate dehydrogenase⁹²

Organonitrogen compounds

Cyclohexylammonium

Inhibits polyamine synthesis and Candida growth⁹³

Furans

Isolimonic acid

Induces reactive oxygen species and apoptosis, reducing Candida virulence⁹⁴