PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF ORAL-ADMINISTRATION OF A TRADITIONAL MEDICINE, JUZEN-TAIHO-TO, AND ITS COMPONENTS ON LETHAL CANDIDA-ALBICANS INFECTIONIN IMMUNOSUPPRESSED MICE

Protective effects of a kampo medicine, Juzen-taiho-to (TJ-48) and its herbal components against experimental candidiasis in cyclophosphamid e-induced immunosuppressive mice were investigated. ICR mice were immu nosuppressed by intraperitoneal treatment with cyclophosphamide (day-4 ) and were orally given TJ-48 or one of its 10 herbal components for 4 consecutive days (day-4 similar to-1). They were then challenged intr avenously with a lethal dose of Candida albicans (day 0). An oral dose of 1g/kg/day of TJ-48 prolonged their life span. A similar protective effect was obtained by treatment with its component drugs-Ginseng rad ix, Glycyrrhizae radix, Atractylodis lancea rhizoma or Cnidii rhizoma. These herbal components were suggested to have a main role in the pro tective effect of Juzen-taiho-to against Candida infection.