Protection of immunosuppressed mice from lethal Candida infection by oral administration of a kampo medicine, hochu-ekki-to.
The protective effect of a Kampo medicine, Hochu-ekki-to (TJ-41) on experimental candidiasis in immunosuppressed mice was investigated. ICR mice were immunosuppressed by injection of prednisolone or cyclophosphamide, given TJ-41 orally and challenged intravenously with Candida albicans (day 0). Treatments with a daily dose of 1 g/kg/day of TJ-41 for 8 days from day-4 or for 4 days from day 0 significantly prolonged the life span of the Candida-infected mice pretreated with prednisolone. The latter treatment appeared to inhibit the colonization of Candida in kidneys of the infected mice. These results suggest that Hochu-ekki-to can be used as a therapeutic agent against candidiasis in patients with glucocorticoid-induced immunosuppression.
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015996:Survival Rate