In vivo Antimicrobial Activity ofOzonized Theobroma Oil Ovulesagainst Candida albicans

Title: Effects of ozonated theobroma oil and ketoconazole ovules on rats infected with Candida albicans. Background: Candidiasis is an infection caused by a yeast shaped fungus which includes Candida gender. Candida albicans is an opportunistic microorganism, which causes more than 80% of vaginal infections. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of ozonized theobroma oil vaginal ovules in the treatment of induced vaginal candidiasis compared to Ketoconazole ovules in Sprague Dawley female rats. Methods and Findings: Animals were ovariectomized and injected with a hormonal treatment after 14 days in order to know the oestrus cycle. After 48 hours rats with keratinous cellules were vaginally infected with an inoculum of 106-107 Candida albicans in 0.1 mL of phosphate buffer solution. Five animals groups were studied: group I (without treatment), group II (treated with unozonized theobroma oil ovules), group III (treated with ketoconazole ovules), group IV (treated with 10% ozonized theobroma oil ovules), and group V (treated with 20% ozonized theobroma oil ovules). Exudates were made before beginning the treatment, 5 and 10 days during the treatment and 48 hours after the end of treatment. Results demonstrated a decrease of 0.7 log of the number of rats with infection after 5 days of treatment with 20% ozonized theobroma oil ovules; however, it was not observed infection in rats after 10 days. A similar result was obtained with ketoconazole ovules. Conclusions: Due to antimicrobial activity of 20% ozonized theobroma oil ovules, it can be recommended their use for treatment of Candidiasis