Protection of C3H/HE J mice from development of Candida albicans infection by oral administration of Juzen-taiho-to and its component, Ginseng radix: possible roles of macrophages in the host defense mechanisms.
Protective effect of a Japanese traditional herbal medicine, Juzen-taiho-to (TJ-48), which was recently reported to augment host-mediated antifungal actions, in Candida albicans-infected mice was further studied. TJ-48, given orally once daily for 5 consecutive days in a dose of 2 g/kg after intravenous infection of C. albicans, prolonged survival period of infected mice of a C3H/He J strain which is characteristic of functional deficiency of macrophages, but did not that of infected mice of a C3H/He N strain with normal macrophage function. Peritoneal macrophages obtained from C3H/He J mice showed a moderate inhibitory activity against Candida growth in vitro. The anti-Candida activity of the macrophages was augmented by the addition of TJ-48 or some component extracts of TJ-48 to the incubation medium. Among such active component extracts is an extract of Ginseng radix which was demonstrated to enhance the anti-Candida activity of macrophages in vitro and to prolong the survival time of C. albicans-infected C3H/He J mice without effect on C3H/He N mice. On the base of these findings, the mechanisms underlying the protective action of TJ-48 against systemic Candida infection was discussed in relation with its possible activity to activate the macrophage function.
Akagawa
G
G
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Abe
S
S
Tansho
S
S
Uchida
K
K
Yamaguchi
H
H
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D005894:Panax / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D013045:Species Specificity
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D007155:Immunologic Factors; C063587:juzentaihoto