Evaluation of the anticandidal activity of methanolic and ethyl acetate extracts of Syzygium aromaticum on Candida albicans isolated from pregnant women with vulvovaginal candidiasis in Diwaniyah, Iraq

Background: Treating vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) during is difficult because common antifungal drugs may harm the fetus. Furthermore, increasing resistance among Candida species, particularly Candida albicans, highlights the urgent need for alternative therapeutic approaches. In Iraq, most research primarily focuses on the prevalence of C. albicans in pregnant women and detection of virulence genes such as SAP (secreted aspartyl proteinase). This study explores the antifungal effects of Syzygium aromaticum (clove) extracts. Methods: Clinical vaginal swabs were collected from pregnant women suspected of having VVC. Identification of Candida species was performed using standard lab methods, and the SAP gene was confirmed by molecular methods. Antifungal activity of methanolic and ethyl acetate extracts of S. aromaticum was evaluated using the agar well diffusion method. Also, Minimum inhibitory and fungicidal concentrations (MIC and MFC) were measured to assess potency. Results: Of the 85 samples collected, 65 (76.47%) were positive for Candida species. C. albicans was the most prevalent (76.92%), followed by C. krusei (15.38%) and C. glabrata (7.7%). All C. albicans isolates tested positive for the SAP gene. Both extracts inhibited fungal growth significantly (p < 0.05), with ethyl acetate extract showing stronger effects (MIC 0.5 mg/mL, MFC 1.0 mg/mL) than methanol extract (MIC 2.0 mg/mL, MFC 4.0 mg/mL). Conclusion: S. aromaticum extracts, particularly the ethyl acetate fraction, showed promising antifungal activity against virulent C. albicans strains. This suggests potential use as a natural treatment for VVC in pregnancy. More studies are needed to estimate their safety and efficacy in clinical practice.