Vaginal Yeasts and the Antifungal Action of Red Propolis Extract

Abstract

Introduction:Vulvovaginitis is an inflammatory process that affects the vulva, vagina and cervix, most of the times of infectious cause. Vulvovaginal candidiasis is the second most frequent cause in Brazil, in Europe ranks first. Candida spp can be found in the vagina up to 20% of asymptomatic women.Objective: Understanding the occurrence of vaginal yeasts and evaluating the antifungal action of a red propolis extract.Method: This is a clinical study in vitro with vaginal secretion samples collected from 197 patients treated at the Health Center Frei Damiao in Patos-PB, Brazil. The species were identified using a chromogenic medium CHROMagar Candida®. At the end, the antifungal activity of the red propolis extract in four different concentrations was observed: 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%, by test disc Agar diffusion. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Federal University of Campina Grande, CAAE 35203614.8.0000.5575. Results:Of the samples analyzed other species identified by the medium used were the most prevalent corresponding to 59.8%, followed by C. albicans, with 21.7%. The antifungal activity was observed in 81.25% of the tested samples. According to the average and standard deviation of the inhibition zone of the four concentrations, the one that presented the smallest variation was the concentration at 50%, followed by concentration to 75%. Conclusions:The results of this research showed that there was antifungal action of red propolis extract, since occurred inhibition in 81.25% of the analyzed samples. However did not show clearance regarding this action, since positivity tendency was not growing by increasing or decreasing the concentration of propolis extract.