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Fungal nail infection (onychomycosis) - Evidence
Evidence on topical Ageratina pichinchensis for dermatophyte onychomycosis

There is weak indirect evidence from one randomized controlled trial (RCT) that an extract from the Ageratina pichinchensis plant may be effective for dermatophyte onychomycosis. It has not been compared in RCTs with topical treatments licensed in the UK.

Ageratina pichinchensis plant extract compared with placebo

  • CKS found no RCTs.

Ageratina pichinchensis plant extract compared with other topical treatments

  • One double-blind RCT (n = 110) found no difference in the cure rates for onychomycosis treated with topical extract of Ageratina pichinchensis or with topical ciclopirox [Romero-Cerecero et al, 2008].
    • Participants were randomly assigned to one of two topical treatments: an extract of Ageratina pichinchensis or ciclopirox.
    • Affected nails were treated for 6 months. The lacquer was applied to affected nails every third day for the first month, twice a week for the second month, and once a week from the third month onwards.
    • About 13% of participants withdrew from the study.
    • Cure rates were similar in the two groups on completion of treatment.
      • The clinical cure rate for Ageratina pichinchensis was 71% compared with 81% for ciclopirox (p = 0.6).
      • The mycological cure rate for Ageratina pichinchensis was 59% compared with 64% for ciclopirox (p = 0.3).

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