Essential oil and nanocarrier-based formulations approaches for vaginal candidiasis.

ABSTRACT

An exclusive site for local drug delivery is the vagina, especially for vaginal infections. The fungus Candida albicans causes vaginal infection known as vulvovaginal candidiasis, a highly prevalent and recurrent gynaecological disease among women. Vaginal candidiasis affects over 75% of women at a certain point in their life and has a recurrence rate of 40-50%. Medicinal plants provide some very effective phytoconstituents which when delivered as nanosystems have enhanced therapeutic action and efficacy by alteration in their characteristics. Antifungal drugs are used to treat these conditions, alternative medicine is required for prophylaxis and improved prognosis. The current review focuses on the research carried out on various nanocarrier-based approaches and essential oil-based formulations for vaginal candidiasis.

The vagina is a part of a woman's body that can sometimes get sick from a fungus called Candida albicans. This sickness is called thrush, and it's very common. More than 75% of women will get it at some point, and it might come back again after it's gone. There are medicines that can help, but some plants can also be used to make powerful medicine that can heal the sickness from tiny particles called 'nanosized carriers'. Scientists are studying different ways to give the medicine to the sick area from these plants.