Effect of hydro-alcoholic extract of peel of Punica granatum L. on growth of Candida albicans in alloxan-induced diabetic rats

Nowadays, especially opportunistic fungi such as Candida albicans are the most common risk factors in patients who are immunocompromised. Fungal infections caused by Candida species and increasing strains resistant to azole drugs in Immunosuppression patients are important to enjoy. The toxicity of drugs used, the resistance of the fungus and problems from drug interactions, necessitates the use of more effective and less toxic drugs cause the screw. Pomegranate consumption except for nutrition is impressive for medicinal and therapeutic effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of pomegranate peel extract at doses concentrations of 25, 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg on growth of C. albicans (ATCC 10231) in alloxan-induced diabetic rat. The animals were made diabetic by intraperitoneal injection of alloxan (150 mg/kg). After diabetes induction, they were infected by Candida albicans, orally. Then, treatments of extract and Itraconazole were done orally. Sampling of fungus from month,culturing and colony counting were done daily for evaluating effects of extract and Itraconazoleon fungal growth. The results showed that oral treatment of hydro-alcoholic peel extract improved Candida albicans infections in diabetic rats. Its potency is similar to Itraconazole, as synthetic drug. On the second day of treatment, significant effect of extract on growth C. albicans was shown (P