Efficacy of a vaginal tablet as a Persian medicine product on vulvovaginal candidiasis: a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial

• Published in: Pharmaceutical biology Vol. 58; no. 1; pp. 574 - 580
• Main Authors: Khalilzadeh, Somayyeh, Eftkhar, Tahereh, Shirbeigi, Laila, Tabarrai, Malihe, Toliyat, Tayebeh, Fayazmanesh, Shamim, Ghasemi, Zeinab, Shamohammadi, Safar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 01.01.2020; Taylor & Francis Ltd; Taylor & Francis Group
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; anti-candida; Antifungal Agents - administration & dosage; Antifungal Agents - isolation & purification; Candidiasis; Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal - diagnosis; Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal - drug therapy; Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal - epidemiology; Clinical trials; Double-Blind Method; Double-blind studies; Female; Humans; Iran - epidemiology; Irritation; Lactose; Medicine, Traditional - methods; Middle Aged; Patients; Persia; Placebos; Plant Extracts - administration & dosage; Plant Extracts - isolation & purification; Plant Preparations - administration & dosage; Plant Preparations - isolation & purification; Pruritus; Rosa damascena; Starch; Treatment Outcome; Uterus; Vagina; Vagina - drug effects; Vagina - microbiology; Vaginal Creams, Foams, and Jellies - administration & dosage; Vaginal Creams, Foams, and Jellies - isolation & purification; vaginal discharge; Vaginitis; Young Adult; Iran; Persia; anti-candida; Vaginitis; vaginal discharge
• ISSN: 1388-0209; 1744-5116
• DOI: 10.1080/13880209.2020.1784236

In Persian medicine, topical ingredients such as Rosa damascena Mill. (Rosaceae), are usually recommended for the treatment of uterine diseases. Scientific evaluation of these historical documents can be valuable for finding new potential use in conventional medicine. This clinical trial was performed to determine whether the use of the 'ward' vaginal tablet, which contains Rosa damascena, Punica granatum L. (Punicaceae), Querqus infectoria Oliv. (Fagaceae), Myrtus communis L. (Myrtaceae) and Nardostachys jatamansi (D.Don) DC. (Caprifoliaceae) could alleviate the symptoms of vulvovaginal candidiasis. A parallel double-blinded placebo-controlled study was done. Eighteen to fifty-year-old women with vulvovaginal candidiasis were divided into the 'ward' and placebo groups, 46 individuals in each group. The 'ward' group received the 'ward' vaginal tablet containing 200 mg of dried extract. Placebo group received a placebo (composed of corn starch and lactose). One tablet was applied through the vagina for 7 consecutive nights. Two weeks after medication administration, the vaginal discharge sample of patients was re-cultured; 29 patients (63.045%) in the 'ward' group and 6 (13.04%) patients in the placebo group had negative culture (p < 0.001). All clinical symptoms including itching, irritation, and vaginal discharge were significantly reduced in the 'ward' group compared with the placebo group following the intervention and the follow up (p < 0.05). The findings suggest the 'ward' vaginal tablet could ameliorate vulvovaginal candidiasis. Future larger studies are recommended due to compare the therapeutic effect of the 'ward' vaginal tablet with common treatments.