Document Type : Research articles

Authors

• Zohreh Sarhadinejad ¹
• Haleh Tajadini ²
• Mojgan Tansaz ³
• Abbas Bahrampour ⁴
• Zarrin Sarhadynejad ¹
• Mehdi Ansari ⁵
• Fariba Sharififar ⁶
• Maryam Iranpour ⁷
• Zohreh Salari ⁸

¹ Herbal and Traditional Medicines Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

² Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

³ Department of Persian Medicine, School of Persian Medicine, Material Medical Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

⁴ Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Kerman University Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

⁵ Department of Drug and Food Control, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

⁶ Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

⁷ Pathology and Stem cell Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

⁸ Obstetrics and Gynecology Center, Afzalipour School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

Abstract

Background: Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is a very common debility in gynecology clinics. Despite access to several antifungal agents, VVC is still a challenge; therefore, presenting a novel antifungal agent, especially with a traditional origin, is of interest and demand. Objectives: The current study aimed at comparing the efficacy of Anethum graveolens L. (dill) vaginal cream with that of 1% Clotri- mazole vaginal cream to treat VVC. Methods: A prospective, single-center, randomized, double-blind clinical trial was performed. In the current study, married females
aged 18 - 65 years, with probable vulvovaginal candidiasis were enrolled for primary evaluation. After VVC confirmation by the sniff test, the patients were allocated into three groups with regard to blocked randomization, and inclusion and exclusion criteria. The first group (n = 59) was treated with 1% Clotrimazole vaginal cream; the second (n = 60) with a combination of dill seed essential oil and dried aqueous extract vaginal cream (TEE); and the last (n = 56) with dill seed essential oil vaginal cream (EO) for seven nights. After 10 days, the therapeutic effects were assessed.
Results: After the intervention, itching decreased to 30.5%, 3.3%, and 12.5% in the Clotrimazole, TEE, and EO groups, respectively; the sniff test also decreased to 33.9%, 13.3%, and 12.5%, respectively. Although a statistically significant difference, according to itching and sniff test, was observed among the three groups (P < 0.001, P = 0.005), there was no significant difference between TEE and EO (P = 0.06). Conclusions: The current study showed that the herbal preparation could be used as an alternative antifungal agent for vulvovagi- nal Candidiasis.

Keywords

• Anethum graveolens
• Antifungal Agent
• Candidiasis
• Clotrimazole
• Dill Seed
• Essential Oil
• Herbal Preparation
• Traditional Medicine
• Vaginal Cream
• Vaginitis