Ageratina pichinchensis is utilized in
traditional medicine for the
treatment of
dermatomycosis and
inflammation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and mycological
effectiveness of the
topical administration of an enecalin standardized extract of A. pichinchensis for treating
onychomycosis in
patients with
type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2). A double blind, randomized, and
controlled clinical trial was carried out that included
patients with DM2 and
who had mild or moderate
onychomycosis. Participants were administered topically, for 6 months, a
lacquer containing the encecalin standardized extract of A. pichinchensis (experimental group) or 8%
ciclopirox (
control group). In a large percentage of both, the
control group (77.2%) and the experimental group (78.5%),
clinical efficacy was detected as a decrease in the number of affected
nails and a reduction in the severity of
nail involvement. Without exhibiting statistically significant differences between groups, the encecalin standardized extract of A. pichinchensis was clinically and mycologically effective in the
treatment of mild and moderate
onychomycosis in
patients with DM2. The
treatment of
onychomycosis in
patients with DM2 implies a greater challenge, while
control of
blood glucose levels in these
patients, played a very important
role in the response of
patients to
treatment.