Formulation, stability study and preclinical evaluation of a vaginal cream containing curcumin in a rat model of vulvovaginal candidiasis. Issue 10 (31st July 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fernandes, Lígia de Souza; Amorim, Yuri Martins; da Silva, Elton Libério; Silva, Samuel Calixto; Santos, Alécia Junia Aparecida; Peixoto, Franciele Natália; Neves Pires, Luara Moniele; Sakamoto, Raquel Yumi; Horta Pinto, Flávia do Carmo; Scarpa, Maria Virgínia Costa; Araújo, Marcelo Gonzaga de Freitas
• Is Part Of: Mycoses. Volume 61:Issue 10(2018)
• Page Start: 723
• Page End: 730
• Publication Date: 2018-07-31
• Subjects: analytical method validation -- antifungal -- Candida albicans -- Curcumin -- stability study -- vaginal cream -- vulvovaginal candidiasis; Pathogenic fungi -- Periodicals; Medical mycology -- Periodicals; 616.969
• DOI: 10.1111/myc.12762
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0933-7407

Abstract

Summary: Owing to the growing resistance among isolates of Candida species to usual antifungal agents and the well‐known therapeutic potential of curcumin, the purpose of this study was to develop and validate a vaginal formulation containing this substance and to evaluating its effectiveness in the treatment of experimental vulvovaginal candidiasis. Curcumin was incorporated in a vaginal cream in three concentrations (0.01%, 0.1% and 1.0%). The different concentrations of the cream and its controls were intravaginally administered in an immunosuppressed rat model to evaluate the efficacy in the treatment of experimental vulvovaginal candidiasis. Samples of the cream were also subjected to centrifugation and physical stability tests and an analytical method for quantification of curcumin was validated based on HPLC. The formulation was stable and the HPLC method could be considered suitable for the quantitative determination of curcumin in the cream. After 6 days of preclinical study, the number of infected animals was 1/6 in all groups treated with curcumin vaginal cream and the fungal burden showed a progressive reduction. Reduction in the inflammatory infiltrate was observed in the group treated with 1.0% cream. Vaginal cream containing curcumin could be considered a promising effective antifungal medicine in the treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis.