The protective effects of a "hozai" type of
Kampo medicine,
Juzen-taiho-to (Shi-quan-da-bu-tang, TJ-48),
Hochu-ekki-to (Bu-zhong-yi-qi-tang, TJ-41) or
Ninjin-yoei-to (Ren-shen-yang-rong-tang, TJ-108) on experimental
candidiasis in immunosuppressed mice were investigated. ICR mice, which were immunosuppressed by injection of
cyclophosphamide or
prednisolone, were given these medicines orally andchallenged intravenously with Candida albicans (day 0). Treatments with a daily dose of 1 g/kg/day of
TJ-48 or that of 1 or 2 g/kg/day of
TJ-108 for 4 consecutive days from day-4 significantly prolonged the survival time of the Candida-infected mice pretreated with
cyclophosphamide. Treatments with a daily dose of 1 g/kg/day of
TJ-48 for 4 consecutive days from day 0, but not from day -4, significantly prolonged the life span of the Candida-infected mice pretreated with
prednisolone. On the basis of these results and previous findings, characteristics of these
kampo medicines as therapeutic agents against
candidiasis in immunosuppressed hosts were discussed.