OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus) 10% cream versus Clotrimazole 1% cream in the treatment of superficial fungal skin infection.

DESIGN: Randomized clinical trial

SETTING: Quezon City General Hospital, Out-patient Department

STUDY SUBJECTS: Patients aged 17 years old and above seen at the Department of Family and Community Medicine (DFCM) Out Patient Department (OPD) Quezon City General Hospital and Medical Center.

METHOD: The study was conducted from from May-September 2013. Of 50 subjects, 49 were included in the study and assigned to either Group A (25) or Group B (24) using systematic sampling method. Patients in Group A were instructed to apply on affected areas Clotrimazole 1% cream twice a day for 2 weeks, whereas Group B applied lemon grass 10% cream twice a day for 2 weeks.

RESULTS: Forty-nine subjects completed the study. In both groups, most respondents belonged to the 15-25 age group, were males, married, unemployed and reached college level. Both groups were comparable with P values > 0.05. The mean change in the grading scale of the lesion from the baseline - 2 weeks of treatment was statistically significant for both groups (P-value 0.001 for both), hence both treatments showed improvement in the fungal lesion. The difference in the baseline grading scale for both groups was not statistically significant with P-value of 0.110, hence comparable. However, comparison of the mean difference in the grading scale of the lesion after 2 weeks of treatment was statistically significant with P-value of 0.001, meaning that Group A showed faster resolution of lesions compared to Group B. No adverse reaction was observed in Group B.

CONCLUSION: Topical application of lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus) 10% cream improved superficial fungal skin infection but was found to be inferior to Clotrimazole 1% cream as to the lesion resolution at 2 weeks.