Effectiveness ofAgeratina pichinchensisExtract 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.

Phytochemical, Pharmacological, and Biotechnological Study of Ageratina pichinchensis: A Native Species of Mexico

“…Several compounds have been isolated from this species, but others have been obtained by acetylation, hydrogenation, ozonolysis, iodination, or epoxidation of some of these compounds [ 16 , 42 , 44 ]. The biologically most prominent compounds are encecalinol ( 11 ), encecalin ( 12 ), encecanescin ( 17 ), 3,5-diprenyl-4-hydroxyacetophenone ( 21 ), 7- O -( β -D-glucopyranosyl)-gossypetin ( 30 ), and 7- O -( β -D-glucopyranosyl)-galactin ( 31 ), which have mainly antifungal, antiulcer, wound healing, and some antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities [ 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 ].…”

“…In another case, a clinical study was carried out on vaginal suppositories made with 7% HEA-7:3 containing approximately 15 mg of Compound 12 in female patients diagnosed with vulvovaginal candidiasis. Application of suppositories for 6 days revealed a therapeutic efficacy of 81.2%, while the control of clotrimazole (100 mg) was 86.6%; the tolerability was 94.1% for patients treated with the extract and 93.7% for those treated with clotrimazole [ 19 ].…”

“…Despite its importance, few studies have been conducted to validate only some of its extensive properties. Specifically, they have mainly focused on evaluating its antifungal properties [ 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 ], its action against different types of ulcers [ 18 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 ], its wound healing ability [ 25 , 26 , 27 ], and its antibacterial activity [ 28 ]. Recently, through plant biotechnology, extracts of callus and cell suspension cultures were obtained and exhibited anti-inflammatory properties [ 29 , 30 ].…”

Mexican Plants and Derivates Compounds as Alternative for Inflammatory and Neuropathic Pain Treatment—A Review

“…Moreover, unpigmented hexane-ethyl acetate extract at 5% was evaluated over 11 days in patients with stomatitis, showing that A. pichinchensis reduces the size of buccal lesions and pain scores, with an effectivity of 100% at the end of the study [ 199 ]. Clinical uses of this folk plant have been extended to onychomycosis, vulvovaginal candidiasis [ 200 ], diabetic foot ulcers [ 201 ] and tinea pedis [ 202 ]. Despite several clinical studies, there is only one preclinical study about the antinociceptive and anti-neuropathic properties of this plant.…”

Use of Some Asteraceae Plants for the Treatment of Wounds: From Ethnopharmacological Studies to Scientific Evidences

“…King and H. Rob. is a plant with ethnopharmacological relevance in Mexico, and its several pharmacological activities have been confirmed in murine models and clinical trials in vivo , such as onychomycosis ( Romero-Cerecero et al, 2009 ), interdigital tinea pedis ( Romero-Cerecero et al, 2012b ), stomatitis ( Romero-Cerecero et al, 2015b ), and vulvovaginal candidiasis ( Romero-Cerecero et al, 2017 ). Despite its use for wound healing, the first study showed that the daily topical application of an aqueous extract from the aerial parts of A. pichinchensis heals wounds in rats without inducing skin irritation ( Romero-Cerecero et al, 2011 ).…”