Evaluation of Syngonanthus nitens (Bong.) Ruhl. extract as antifungal and in treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis

Med Mycol. 2013 Oct;51(7):673-82. doi: 10.3109/13693786.2013.795294. Epub 2013 Jun 13.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the in vitro anticandidal activity of a methanolic extract of Syngonanthus nitens scapes against different Candida species and clinical isolates from patients with vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC), and its effect in vivo in the treatment of vaginal infection. Chemical characterization of the extract was performed by HPLC-UV analyses and showed the presence of flavones derivatives. The extract was effective against several Candida strains from our collection and species recovered from VVC patients, and was able to inhibit the yeast-hyphal transition. No cytotoxic activity against human female reproductive tract epithelial cells and no hemolytic activity against human red blood cells were observed. In the in vivo model of VVC, we evaluated the efficacy of the intravaginal treatment with a cream containing the extract at doses of 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0%. The treatment eradicated the vaginal fungal burden in infected rats after 8 days of treatment. S. nitens extract could be considered as an effective and non-toxic natural antifungal agent in the treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Topical
  • Animals
  • Antifungal Agents / isolation & purification
  • Antifungal Agents / pharmacology
  • Antifungal Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Antifungal Agents / toxicity
  • Candida / drug effects*
  • Candida / isolation & purification
  • Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal / drug therapy*
  • Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal / microbiology
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Colony Count, Microbial
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Epithelial Cells / drug effects
  • Eriocaulaceae / chemistry*
  • Erythrocytes / drug effects
  • Female
  • Flavones / isolation & purification
  • Flavones / pharmacology
  • Flavones / therapeutic use
  • Flavones / toxicity
  • Humans
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Ointments / therapeutic use
  • Plant Extracts / isolation & purification
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology
  • Plant Extracts / therapeutic use*
  • Plant Extracts / toxicity
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • Flavones
  • Ointments
  • Plant Extracts