In vitro anticandidal potency of Syzygium aromaticum (clove) extracts against vaginal candidiasis

Abstract

Background: Candida vaginitis is a global health hazard that increases morbidity among women of childbearing age. Recent studies have revealed a high incidence of drug-resistant Candida strains. Additionally, treating Candida vulvovaginitis during pregnancy is challenging as antifungal therapy is associated with fetal abnormalities. Hence, it is important to develop novel therapeutic strategies to treat vulvovaginal candidiasis. Methods: In this study, we used the disc diffusion method to evaluate the anticandidal activity of different Syzygium aromaticum extracts (methanol, ethyl acetate, n-hexane, and diethyl ether) against C. albicans, C. glabrata, and C. tropicalis. Furthermore, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of different S. aromaticum extracts was performed to determine active components exhibiting anticandidal activity. Cytotoxicity of different clove extracts against the HUH7 cell line was evaluated. Results: The ethyl acetate extract exhibited the highest antifungal activity against C. albicans, C. glabrata, and C. tropicalis with inhibition zone diameters of 20.9, 14.9, and 30.7 mm, respectively. The minimum inhibitory concentration of the S. aromaticum ethyl acetate extract was 250 μg/disc against C. tropicalis, and 500 μg/disc against C. albicans and C. glabrata, while the minimum fungicidal concentration was 0.5 mg/disc against C. tropicalis and 1 mg/disc against the C. albicans and C. glabrata. GC-MS analysis of the ethyl acetate extract revealed the main bioactive compound as eugenol (58.88%), followed by eugenyl acetate (23.86%), transcaryophyllene (14.44%), and α-humulene (1.88%). The cytotoxicity assay indicated that the diethyl ether extract demonstrated the lowest toxicological effect against the HUH7 cell line, with a relative IC 50 of 62.43 μg/ml; the methanolic extract demonstrated a higher toxicity (IC 50 , 24.17 μg/ml). Conclusion: As the S. aromaticum extract exhibited high antifungal activity at low concentrations, it can be a potential source of natural antifungal drugs.

Unraveling the polypharmacology of a natural antifungal product, eugenol, against Rhizoctonia solani

“…29 The high eugenol content of clove essential oil was the main reason for its antifungal effects. 30,31 In addition, eugenol also had a good inhibitory effect on Sphaceloma ampelinum, Valsa mali, Fusarium graminearum, Ralstonia solanacearum and Rhizopus stolonifer among others. [32][33][34][35] Previous studies have shown that cell membranes may be one target in eugenol's destruction of fungi, because eugenol can increase the permeability of fungal cell membranes.…”

Evaluation of the Therapeutic Effect of Syzygium aromaticum Essential Oil in Wistar Rats Infected with Candida albicans - Biochemical and Hematological Study

“…The antifungal activity of the CEO may justify this. S. aromaticum has definite antifungal activity against C. Albicans (Mansourian et al, 2014;Yassin et al, 2020). Eugenol has also been reported to reduce adhesion, biofilm formation, and even alter the morphogenesis of C. Albicans (De Paula et al, 2014).…”

“…Clove (Syzygium aromaticum) is used for its culinary and medicinal virtues. Since then, other properties have been discovered, such as an anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antianaphylactic and anticandidal effect (Adli et al, 2018;Yassin et al, 2020). Thus, the influential role of cloves as inhibitors of various degenerative diseases is attributed to diverse chemical constituents in high concentrations with antioxidant activity (Astuti et al, 2019;Batiha et al, 2020).…”

Phytomedicine from Middle Eastern Countries: An Alternative Remedy to Modern Medicine against Candida spp Infection

“…e clove extract was reported to contain eugenol (58.8%), eugenyl acetate (23.8%), trans-Caryophyllene (14.4%), and α-Humulene (1.8%). Among all organic extracts of clove, ethyl acetate extract showed the highest inhibitory activity in terms of zone of inhibition against the test species of Candida [32]. e meswak (S. persica) root stick is widely used throughout the Arabian and Muslim world during ablution before every daily prayer as it is highly recommended for oral hygiene by Prophet Mohammad.…”