Study of the activity of crude and nano cardamom extracts on some virulence genes of Candida albicans isolated from women with vaginal Candidiasis

The current study aimed to study the effectiveness of crude and nano cardamom extracts on some virulence genes of C. albicans isolated from married women with vaginal candidiasis. 80 clinical samples were collected during the period from November 2023 to January 2024 from married female patients, collected from Salah al-Din General Hospital. Samples were collected for women with vaginal candidiasis whose ages ranged from (17-45 years). The initial diagnosis and examination for follow-up examinations were conducted with the assistance of a female gynecologist. The results of the microscopic and morphological examination of the total number of samples (80) showed that there were 43(53.75%) positive samples. For Ag NPs that prepared in current study, The SEM image exposed that the formed nanoparticle was spherical in shape formed with the size range of 50-90 nm. The susceptibility test for C. albicans showed a different inhibition zone where the highest diameter of the inhibition for cardamom extract (250%) was 24 mm, while the diameter of the inhibition for cardamom extract (100% & 500%) was 12 mm. Regarding silver nanoparticles, the best inhibition diameter was 17 for a concentration of 250%. The study showed a decrease in the level of gene expression of ALS1, HWP1 and ACT1 at concentrations (10, 50, 100, 250 & 500%) compared to the sample not treated with the extract. It is concluded from the current study that each cardamom extract and silver nanoparticles prepared with cardamom have the ability to reduce the gene expression of some virulence genes in C. albicans