Antifungal activity of propolis extract against Candida albicans in patients with vulvovaginal candidiasis

Abstract <strong>Objective:</strong> To evaluate the antifungal activity of propolis extract against <em>Candida Albicans</em> (or <em>C. Albicans</em>) in patients with vulvovaginal candidiasis. <strong>Method:</strong> The research presents a quantitative approach with an experimental design, with a population of <em>C. Albicans</em> strains isolated from patients diagnosed with vulvovaginal candidiasis who were admitted to the Gynecology Service of the Maria del Socorro Clinic, district of Ate - Lima, from which a sample of 34 strains was chosen in total, considering three repetitions per strain, obtaining 102 experimental units. The antifungal susceptibility test was carried out by the disc diffusion plate method using a single concentration of propolis extract, with fluconazole as a positive control. <strong>Resultados:</strong> Propolis extract was shown to inhibit all strains of <em>C. albicans</em>, as was fluconazole, with the effect of the latter being significantly greater than that of the product under investigation. <strong>Conclusion:</strong> The conclusion is that propolis extract does show antifungal activity against <em>C. albicans</em> in patients with vulvovaginal candidiasis. <strong>Keywords:</strong> Propolis extract, <em>Candida Albicans</em>, Antifungal activity, Vulvovaginal candidiasis.摘要 **研究目的**：评估蜂胶提取物对外阴阴道假丝酵母菌病（vulvovaginal candidiasis）患者体内白色念珠菌（Candida Albicans，简称C. Albicans）的抗真菌活性。 **研究方法**：本研究采用定量研究方法结合实验设计方案，受试菌株分离自就诊于秘鲁利马市阿特区玛利亚德尔索科罗诊所妇科门诊、确诊为外阴阴道假丝酵母菌病的患者，最终纳入34株菌株，每株设置3次重复实验，共计获得102个实验单元。采用纸片扩散法开展抗真菌药敏试验，以单一浓度的蜂胶提取物进行处理，氟康唑（fluconazole）作为阳性对照。 **研究结果**：结果显示，蜂胶提取物与氟康唑均可抑制所有受试白色念珠菌菌株，但氟康唑的抑菌效果显著优于受试蜂胶提取物。 **研究结论**：本研究证实，蜂胶提取物对从外阴阴道假丝酵母菌病患者体内分离的白色念珠菌具有明确的抗真菌活性。 **关键词**：蜂胶提取物，白色念珠菌（Candida Albicans），抗真菌活性，外阴阴道假丝酵母菌病。