Anticandidal Effect of Green Synthesized Silver Nanoparticle from Azadirachta Indica Leaf Extract and Development of Ointment Against Candida Albicans Causing Vulvovaginal Candidiasis

Abstract

Background
Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is a condition that impacts women from various ethnic backgrounds and social strata. The precise epidemiology of the disease is difficult to determine due to inconsistent data; however, available information suggests that 70-75% of women will experience VVC at least once in their lifetime. Common symptoms include itching, vaginal discomfort, pain during intercourse, external pain during urination, and unusual discharge.
Methods
The current study investigates the anticandidal properties of neem (Azadirachta indica) leaf
extracts. It compares the anticandidal effects of aqueous and methanolic leaf extracts, as well
as green-synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs/SNPs) derived from methanolic neem leaf
extract, against Candida albicans isolated from clinical samples of patients with vaginal
infection.
Results
The results showed that AgNPs exhibited a stronger inhibitory effect than both the aqueous
and methanol extracts. The methanol extract demonstrated anticandidal activity against C.
albicans, while the aqueous extracts had no effect. The anticandidal effect of AgNPs was
evaluated using the agar well diffusion method. A topical formulation was created by
incorporating the optimized AgNPs into an ointment base, and the in vitro anticandidal assay
of this ointment was conducted using the same agar well diffusion method. The inhibitory
effectiveness of the AgNPs-infused ointment was found to be comparable to that of a
commercial product against Candida albicans.

Conclusion
Overall, the findings suggest that this formulation has potential anticandidal effects against
Candida albicans responsible for Vulvovaginal candidiasis