title: Effectiveness of Ageratina pichinchensis Extract in Patients with Vulvovaginal Candidiasis. A Randomized, Double-Blind, and Controlled Pilot Study.
abstract: Previous clinical studies have demonstrated the antifungal effectiveness of Ageratina pichinchensis extracts when topically administered to patients with dermatomycosis. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and tolerability of a 7% standardized extract of A. pichinchensis (intravaginal) in patients with vulvovaginal candidiasis. The extract was standardized in terms of its encecalin content and administered during 6 days to patients with Candida albicans-associated vulvovaginitis. The positive control group was treated with Clotrimazole (100 mg). On day 7 of the study, a partial evaluation was carried out; it demonstrated that 94.1% of patients treated with Clotrimazole and 100% of those treated with the A. pichinchensis extract referred a decrease or absence of signs and symptoms consistent with vulvovaginal candidiasis. In the final evaluation, 2 weeks after concluding administration, 86.6% of patients in the control group and 81.2% (p = 0.65) of those treated with the A. pichinchensis extract demonstrated therapeutic success. Statistical analysis evidenced no significant differences between the two treatment groups. With the results obtained, it is possible to conclude that the standardized extract from A. pichinchensis, intravaginally administered, showed therapeutic and mycological effectiveness, as well as tolerability, in patients with vulvovaginal candidiasis, without noting statistical differences in patients treated with Clotrimazole. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación Biomédica del Sur, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (CIBIS-IMSS), Xochitepec, Morelos, Mexico.
authors.forename: Ofelia
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2239-0834
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Romero-Cerecero
authors.affiliation: Scholarship student, CIBIS-IMSS, Xochitepec, Morelos, Mexico.
authors.forename: Ana Laura
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Islas-Garduño
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación Biomédica del Sur, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (CIBIS-IMSS), Xochitepec, Morelos, Mexico.
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zamilpa
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación Biomédica del Sur, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (CIBIS-IMSS), Xochitepec, Morelos, Mexico.
authors.forename: Jaime
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tortoriello
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D036603:Ageratina / Q000737:chemistry*; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects; D002181:Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003022:Clotrimazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D003022:Clotrimazole
keywords: Ageratina pichinchensis; Candida albicans; medicinal plants; phytopharmaceuticals; vulvovaginal candidiasis; vulvovaginitis