Antifungal effects of thyme and clove extracts on Candida isolates obtained from patients with Recurrent Vulvovaginal Candidiasis

Recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis is an important gynaecological problem in medicine. Candida vulvovaginitis is the second cause of vaginitis in women after bacterial infections. This study aimed to investigate the effect of thyme and clove essential (TEO and CEO) oil in clinical isolates of recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis.

In this experimental study, 60 samples were taken from patients suspected of recurrent vulvovaginitis who were referred to Zahedan medical centers over a period of 6 months. Definitive diagnosis of candidates was done using germ tube tests, chlamydoconidia production and Candida pigment on CHROMagar candida medium. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined according to the CLSI M27 document of TEO, CEO and fluconazole drug in clinical isolates.

The frequency of Candida albicans was 56.66% and Candida krusei was 43.34% in clinical isolates. The MIC90 of thyme and clove essential oils for clinical isolates of Candida albicans recurrent vulvovaginitis were 3.9 and 0.97 µl/ml, respectively.

The results of this study showed that Candida albicans and Candida krusei are common causes of candidiasis and recurrent vulvovaginitis, respectively. Also, compared to thyme essential oil, clove essential oil had a better antifungal effect in inhibiting the causative agents of recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis.