Sheida Shabanian, Shahrzad Habibi Ghahfarrokhi, Masoud Lotfizadeh, Zahra Shirvani and Saeid Heidari-Soureshjani
Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran. Department of Social Medicine, Modeling in Health Research Center, Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran. Department of Health, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran. 4Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran.
Abstract: Vaginal candidiasis is one of the most common infections in women. New approaches suggest use of medicinal plants for producing effective drugs in treatment of bacterial and fungal diseases.
Zataria multiflora, due to the presence of phytochemicals such as thymol and carvacrol showed antioxidant, antibacterial, and antifungal characteristics, so it is a valuable plant for producing effective drugs. This study aimed to compare the effect of vaginal clotrimazole, probiotic vaginal and
Z. multiflora (Leucorex Vaginal Cream). This study was a clinical trial that conducted on 120 patients with vaginal candidiasis referred to women's clinic in Shahrekord (southwestern Iran). Patients were divided randomly into three groups. In each group, 40 patients including probiotic vaginal tablets (gynophilus vaginal tablet), Leucorex vaginal cream, and vaginal clotrimazole cream were administered for 7 days. Improvement of symptoms and their recurrence were recorded in the checklist. Data were analyzed in SPSSv22 using descriptive statistics, T-test, ANOVA and Chi-square tests. There were significant differences in the relief of symptoms among the three groups (
P<0.05), and the improvement in
Z. multiflora and probiotics groups was more than clotrimazole. No significant difference was observed between the group
Z. multiflora and probiotics (
P>0.05). Recurrence between the three groups was statistically significant difference (
P=0.02) and recurrence of symptoms was lower in the group of
Z. multiflora and probiotics. This study showed that the tablets containing probiotic bacteria and creams containing extracts of
Z. multiflora based on clotrimazole act more effective in the treatment of vaginal candidiasis than the clotrimazole alone.
