Comparing the effect of garlic, zataria multiflora and clotrimazole vaginal cream 2 % on improvement of fungal vaginitis : a randomized controlled trial

Abstract EN

Background: Garlic and Zataria multiflora boiss (ZMB) are herbal medicines used traditionally in the treatment of infections, including candidal vaginitis.

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the effect of garlic and ZMB vaginal cream 2%, in the treatment and recurrence of candidal vaginitis.

Methods: This randomized, double-blinded clinical trial was conducted on240 marriedwomenwith candidal vaginitis.

The patients used 5 gr garlic,ZMBor clotrimazole vaginal cream 2% daily, for 7 days.

Complaints of the patients, clinical observations and laboratory parameters were recorded before treatment, on days 7 and 30, after treatment.

The data were analyzed by SPSS v.

21 through chi-square, Fisher, ANOVA with repeated measures, McNemar and Kruskal-Wallis tests.

A P <0.05 was considered significant.

Results: Before treatment, all patients had positive candidiasis fungi culture, in both groups (100%).

The positive culture was 14.1%, 15.2%, 10.3%, respectively, on day 7 after treatment and 2.6%, 0%, 0% on day 30, after treatment with garlic, ZMB and clotrimazole, respectively (P < 0.001).

No significant differences were observed between groups on days 7 (P = 0.69) and 30 (P = 0.21) after treatment, in culture results.

There were no significant differences between groups, in terms of patient complaints and clinical observations before intervention, at days 7 and 30 after treatment (P > 0.05).

Mean scores of candidal symptoms reduced significantly in all groups at on 7 and 30, after treatment (P < 0.001).

Conclusions: Garlic and ZMB vaginal cream 2% can be used as an effective treatment option in cases of drug resistance and, also, by the people who are interested in treating with herbal medicines