Evaluation of Zingiber officinale Rosc. and Ocimum basilicum L. Essential Oils-Loaded Gel Base for the Treatment of Oral Candidiasis

Abstract

Oral candidiasis is an opportunistic infection of the oral cavity and as the name implies, it is caused by Candida species. The rate of incidence occurs in approximately 5-7% of infants, prevalence in HIV is between 9-31% and approximately 20% in patients with cancer. 1 Predisposing factors such as salivary gland dysfunction, use of dental prostheses, smoking, indiscriminate use of antibiotics, endocrine disorders, nutritional deficiencies, poor oral hygiene, age and immune disorders such as HIV can cause oral candidiasis. 2 The immune system of the host typically controls the proliferation of Candida albicans; but, C. albicans cause severe opportunistic infections in patients with diabetes mellitus, immuno-compromised patients on chemotherapy, immunosuppressive therapeutic agents and patients living with HIV. 3 The drug of choice in candidiasis for non-immunosuppressed adults is either nystatin suspension or clotrimazole douche. However, the numerable side effects and the growing incidence of drug-resistant fungal diseases pose a unique task to antifungal drug discovery. 4