In vitro antifungal activities of some mushroom extracts against yeast isolates among women with vulvovaginal candidiasis in a teaching hospital

Objective: Vulvovaginal candidiasis is a common fungal opportunist infection of the female genital parts caused by Candida species. Although it is usually mild, severe cases leading to complications do occur. Studies on natural therapy against candidiasis are rare. Hence, this study was aimed at evaluating the antifungal potentials of Ganoderma applanatum, Ganoderma lucidum, Pleurotus and Polyporus mushrooms against Candida species isolated from vaginal specimens. Method: High vaginal swab (150) samples were collected from patients, with a median age of 34.5 years, streaked on chocolate and sabouraud dextrose agar and incubated between 24 hours and 7 days. Ethanol mushroom extracts (40mg/L) were concentrated using a rotary evaporator Antifungal drugs; fluconazole, nystatin and ketoconazole and the extracts were tested against the isolates. Results: Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Candida tropicalis, and Candida krusei were isolated from the samples; having a prevalence of 27(51.9%), 10(19.2%), 8(15.4%), and 7(13.5%) respectively. Reproductive and teen ages had a higher and lower prevalence of 30(57.7%) and 2(3.8%) respectively. The susceptibility test revealed that 67.3%, 44.2% and 75.0% of the total yeast isolates were susceptible to nystatin, ketoconazole and fluconazole respectively. Candida albicans, C. tropicalis, C. glabrata and C. krusei were most susceptible to fluconazole (81.5%), fluconazole (100%), ketoconazole (60%) and nystatin (85.7%) respectively. C. albicans, C. glabrata, C. krusei; and C. tropicalis, were most susceptible to Ganoderma lucidum, Polyporus; and Pleurotus species respectively. Conclusion: Vulvovaginal candidiasis can be controlled by natural antifungal therapy. The tested mushrooms can be formulated into drugs against the infection.