Inhibitory Effect of Oral Candidiasis

Healthy rats were immunocompromised and tested for negative results of *Candida* in the oral cavity. Thereafter, confirmation of *Candida* infection was confirmed in the oral cavity of the immunocompromised animals. Daily treatment with five different formulations in the groups of animals with a sterile cotton swab revealed the improvement of oral infection as measured by the decrease in the ulcer index (Table 10). The results demonstrated that the HA-FS-NTF would be effective in controlling oral ulcers in the animals when compared with the other treatment options. The findings are quite similar to the in vitro inhibitory efficacy against *C. albicans*. Lack of sesame oil in the hyaluronic acid hydrogel loaded with F-NTF showed a marked difference in the ulcer index; however, the difference is statistically insignificant. Such a difference in efficacy in the HA-FS-NTF could be explained by the additional antifungal effect of sesame oil. Additionally, lack of hyaluronic acid in the fluconazole suspension was found be associated with a significant decrease in efficacy when compared with the hyaluronic acid hydrogel loaded with fluconazole; this could be illuminated by the additional role of hyaluronic acid in the control of *C. albicans* growth.


**Table 10.** In vivo ulcer index of the *Candida* albicans-infected immunocompromised animals after 3 days of treatment.
