Protection of Immunosuppressed Mice from Lethal Candida Infection by Oral Administration of a Kampo Medicine, Hochu-Ekki-To

AbstractThe 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 1g/kg/day of TJ-41 for 8 days from day-4 or for 4 days from day 0 significantly grolonged the life span of the Candida-infected mice pretreated with prednisolone. The latter treatment appeared to inhibit the colanization 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.