title: Comparison of the therapeutic effects of Garcin(®) and fluconazole on Candida vaginitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study aimed to determine and compare the effects of garlic tablets (Garcin(®)) and fluconazole on Candida vaginitis in women who presented to a health centre in Koohdasht, Iran, from August 2011 to March 2012.
  
  
  METHODS
  The clinical trial was conducted on 110 married women (aged 18-44 years) who had complaints of itching or a burning sensation in the vaginal area. Candida vaginitis was diagnosed by pH measurement of vaginal secretions, direct microscopic evaluation and Sabouraud dextrose agar cultures of the vaginal discharge. On confirmation of diagnosis, the patients were randomly divided into two groups (n = 55). One group received 1,500 mg of Garcin tablets daily and the other received fluconazole tablets 150 mg daily, over a period of seven days. Four to seven days after the completion of treatment, patients were examined for treatment response and possible side effects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Complaints related to the disease improved by about 44% in the Garcin group and 63.5% in the fluconazole group (p < 0.05). The overall symptoms of the disease (i.e. redness of vulva and vagina, cheesy discharge, pustulopapular lesions and abnormal cervix) improved by about 60% in the Garcin group and 71.2% in the fluconazole group (p > 0.05). Results of microscopic evaluation and vaginal discharge culture showed significant differences before and after intervention in both groups (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study shows that Garcin tablets could be a suitable alternative to fluconazole for the treatment of Candida vaginitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Midwifery and Reproductive Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Farzaneh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ebrahimy
authors.affiliation: Department of Midwifery and Reproductive Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahrokh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dolatian
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Fariborz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Moatar
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Paramedicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Hamid Alavi
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Majd
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002175:Candida / Q000187:drug effects*; D002181:Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D015725:Fluconazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005737:Garlic / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013607:Tablets; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013607:Tablets; D015725:Fluconazole
keywords: Garcin; fluconazole; vaginitis