Design, Stability and Antifungal Efficacy of a Lactobacillus acidophilus–Honey Topical Formulation for Vulvovaginal candidiasis
Aaditya Raj Sharma, Rishabh Gupta, Reena Antony, and Bhupendra Prasad
Career College Autonomus Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh - 462023 (India)
ABSTRACT
Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC), predominantly caused by Candida albicans, affects approximately 75% of women at least once and recurs in 8% of cases. Conventional antifungal therapies, while effective, may cause resistance and disrupt the normal microbiota. Natural agents such as medical-grade honey and probiotic Lactobacillus spp. possess intrinsic antifungal and microbiota-modulating properties that could offer safer and sustained relief. Our objective was to formulate a semisolid ointment combining medical grade honey and Lactobacillus acidophilus, and to compare its antifungal efficacy against C