Avaliação da eficácia do fitoterápico a base de Cymbopogon citratus Stapf em candidiase vaginal : estudo controlado, cego e randomizado

Abstract

Candidiasis is one of the most common causes of infection of the female genital tract . Its clinical diagnosis is suggested by the presence of the classic symptoms : vulvovaginal pain, itching and burning , i nflammation , thick, lumpy and malodoro us leucorrhea, vulvar and vaginal hyperemia, swollen and cracked v aginal mucosa with white plates . Those finding s should be confirmed by laboratory diagnosis . M ycological examination should confirm the presence of bla stoconi dia structures , associated or not with pseudohyphae in the vaginal exudate . Cymbopogon citratus ( DC. ) Stapf , known as lemon grass is a tall, thick grass with a strong citrus scent . It is used in folk medicine to treat various diseases and studie s have proven its antidepressant, antioxidant, antiseptic, astringent, bactericidal , fungicidal , sedative and calming effects . Its action against microorganisms of the genus Candida spp has been proven in vitro . The objective of this study was to evaluat e the therapeutic efficacy of the intravaginal herbal medicine made with the essential oil of Cymbopogon citratus Stapf ( OEC c ) in the t reatment of vaginal candidiasis . At the Maternity Hospital in Assis Chateubriant , 32 female patients aged 18 - 49 years wit h positive clinical and laboratory diagnosis for vaginal candidiasis were randomly assigned for two treatment groups to receive study drug or control drug blind treatment daily for 7 days as clinical protocol approved by the Research Ethics and conducted a ccording to the Guidelines for Good Clinical Practice . 25 patients completed treatment and participation in the study, 12 in the grou p using the Miconazole (control ) and 13 in the group that used the cream base OEC c ( test) . The results of the clinical ex amination before and after treatment were analyzed by Fisher's exact test , which showed no statistically significant difference between the groups OEC c and Miconazole in the proportion of patients who progressed to the absence of characteristic findings o f candidiasis ( P = 0 , 59) . This result was also obtained when comparing mycological examination ( P = 0.32 ) . With regard to adverse events , the data were analyzed by Fisher's exact test , which showed no statistically significant difference between M iconazole and OEC c groups regarding the proportion of patients reporting any adverse event during the study ( P = 1.00 ) . The treatment outcome of patients who used OEC c in the test group was not statistically different from the results obtained from the use of miconazole in the control group , either in its clinical efficacy , or in the presence of adverse events , showing that the use of the vaginal cream with OEC c can be an effective and safe tr eatment for vaginal candidiasis .