The Antifungal Effect of the Fraction Isolated from Allium Hirtifolium Extract on Vaginal Candidiasis in Comparison with Clotrimazole: A Double-Blind Clinical Trial Study

Candidiasis is an important health problem and one of the most common infections of the female genital tract. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of the formulated antifungal extract of Vaginahil® as a purified and formulated fraction of the ethyl acetate extract of Allium hirtifolium plant in the treatment of candidal vaginitis.

Fractions were prepared from ethylene acetate extract of Allium hirtifolium (mountain shallot) and their MIC against Candida albicans was determined. The most effective fraction with an anti-fungal effect was formulated and named Vaginiheal®. In total 30 women with confirmed vulvovaginal candidiasis infection were divided into two groups, one treated with Vaginiheal® and the other as control group without significant changes in age, education level, and occupation. Vaginiheal® was used to treat 15 women (n = 15) and the control group (n = 15) was treated with Clotrimazole.

The isolated fraction with the greatest antifungal effect had a MIC of 60 μg.ml-1 against Candida albicans. There was no significant difference between the women treated with Vaginiheal® and the group of women treated with Clotrimazole in terms of age, employment status, and pregnancy history. Our obtained results showed, Vaginiheal® treatment can lead to improvement and acceleration of complete treatment, reduction of inflammation, and decreasing of abnormal vaginal secretions in women with vulvovaginal candidiasis compared to the group treated with Clotrimazole.

Vaginiheal® should be considered as a new and effective medicinal option in the treatment of women with vulvovaginal candidiasis and its recurrent type.