Effect of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles and Vitamin C on Vaginal Infection Caused by Candida albicans and Escherichia coli in the Mouse Model

Mixed vaginitis is the simultaneous presence of two or more types of pathogens. Zinc oxide (ZnO NPs) is commonly used in pharmaceutical products. Our study investigates the role of ZnO NPs and vitamin C (VC) in resolving mixed vaginitis. The NMRI mice were inoculated with a mixture of Candida albicans and Escherichia coli. Mice were classified into 8 groups: (1) control, (2) intact mice that received ZnO NPs, (3) intact mice that received daily injection of VC, (4) intact mice that received co- administration of ZnO NPs and VC, (5) infected, (6) infected treated with ZnO NPs, (7) infected that received daily injection of VC, and (8) infected mice treated with co- administration of ZnO NPs and VC. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated using broth dilution methods. Blood samples were obtained for hematological analysis. Vaginal tissue samples were separated and histopathological analysis was performed. Co-administration of ZnO NPs and VC improved the hematological profiles and vaginal architecture. Inhibitory concentration (IC- 50 and IC- 90) of ZnO NPs for the mixture of C. albicans and E. coli were 235.86 and 685.81 ppm, respectively. Co-administration of ZnO NPs and VC in mixed vaginitis management, Mixed vaginitis disrupted the structure of the vaginal epithelium. Consumption of ZnO NPs also caused adverse changes in the structure of the vagina, but co-administration of nanoparticles and VC completely improved the negative effects of infection and ZnO NPs in vaginal tissue, that these agents can be used in the management of mixed vaginitis.