Abstract
BackgroundCandida vaginitis is a global health hazard that increases morbidity among women of childbearing age. Recent studies have revealed a high incidence of drug-resistant Candida strains. Additionally, treating Candida vulvovaginitis during pregnancy is challenging as antifungal therapy is associated with fetal abnormalities. Hence, it is important to develop novel therapeutic strategies to treat vulvovaginal candidiasis.MethodsIn this study, we used the disc diffusion method to evaluate the anticandidal activity of different Syzygium aromaticum extracts (methanol, ethyl acetate, n-hexane, and diethyl ether) against C. albicans, C. glabrata, and C. tropicalis. Furthermore, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of different S. aromaticum extracts was performed to determine active components exhibiting anticandidal activity. Cytotoxicity of different clove extracts against the HUH7 cell line was evaluated.ResultsThe ethyl acetate extract exhibited the highest antifungal activity against C. albicans, C. glabrata, and C. tropicalis with inhibition zone diameters of 20.9, 14.9, and 30.7 mm, respectively. The minimum inhibitory concentration of the S. aromaticum ethyl acetate extract was 250 μg/disc against C. tropicalis, and 500 μg/disc against C. albicans and C. glabrata, while the minimum fungicidal concentration was 0.5 mg/disc against C. tropicalis and 1 mg/disc against the C. albicans and C. glabrata. GC-MS analysis of the ethyl acetate extract revealed the main bioactive compound as eugenol (58.88%), followed by eugenyl acetate (23.86%), trans-caryophyllene (14.44%), and α-humulene (1.88%). The cytotoxicity assay indicated that the diethyl ether extract demonstrated the lowest toxicological effect against the HUH7 cell line, with a relative IC50 of 62.43 μg/ml; the methanolic extract demonstrated a higher toxicity (IC50, 24.17 μg/ml).ConclusionAs the S. aromaticum extract exhibited high antifungal activity at low concentrations, it can be a potential source of natural antifungal drugs.
Highlights
Candida vaginitis is a global health hazard that increases morbidity among women of childbearing age
The antifungal activity of S. aromaticum has been demonstrated by Khan et al (2009), who reported that the ethanolic extract of clove was highly effective against C. albicans with a Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value at 156 μg/mL [22]
Anticandidal activity Screening the antifungal activity of different S. aromaticum extracts against Candida species was performed to evaluate the most effective solvent for extraction of active ingredients
Summary
Candida vaginitis is a global health hazard that increases morbidity among women of childbearing age. Recent studies have revealed a high incidence of drug-resistant Candida strains. Treating Candida vulvovaginitis during pregnancy is challenging as antifungal therapy is associated with fetal abnormalities. Candidal vulvovaginitis is a common inflammatory disease among women, caused by an infection of the Candida species, especially C. albicans [1]. Epidemiological studies have indicated that C. albicans (70.0–89.0%) is the main causative agent of Candida vaginitis, followed by C. glabrata (3.4–20.0%). An earlier study reported that approximately 94% of all C. albicans isolates from vaginitis patients exhibit resistance to fluconazole [17]. The high incidence of vaginal candidiasis among pregnant women, in addition to the emergence of resistant Candida strains to different antifungal agents, enhances the necessity to formulate novel and safe natural therapeutic agents. This study aimed to investigate the anticandidal activity of different S. aromaticum extracts against three Candida species
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