The comparative study of anti-fungal effect of pharmaceutical products containing hydroalcoholic extract of Echinophora platyloba DC and fluconazole in women with chronic recurrent vaginitis caused by candida albicans

The second most common vaginal infection is candida vaginitis. The use of anti-fungal traditional medicine and herbal therapies has been increased in recent years. The anti-fungal effect of E. platyloba DC extract on candida has been shown in the in vitro studies. The purpose of this study was to investigate this effect in women with candida vaginitis by in vivo study. METHODS: A randomized double blind clinical trial was done on 60 married women with candida albicans vaginitis referred to Obstetrics and Gynecology clinic. Patients were randomly divided into two groups. The first group received Echino cream plus fluconazole and the second group received fluconazole alone. Patients were evaluated by the second questionnaire and laboratory studies on vaginal specimens two weeks and 6 months later for recurrence. RESULTS: 14 days after treatment the positive culture of vaginal discharge were observed in 13 cases of (43.3%) the group treated with fluconazole, and 6 cases (20%) treated with fluconazole and Echino cream (p < 0.5). The rate of recurrent candida vaginitis was 17 cases (56.7%) in the group treated with fluconazole, and 8 cases (26.7%) in the second group (p < 0.5). CONCLUSIONS: E. platyloba DC extract was effective in women with candida vaginitis. More multicentral studies are needed to evaluate the effects in more details.