Antifungal Mechanisms of a Chinese Herbal Medicine, Cao Huang Gui Xiang, Against Candida Species
Yue H, Xu X, He S, Cui X, Guo Y, Zhao J, Peng B, Liu Q · Frontiers in Pharmacology · 2022 March 09
DOI 10.3389/fphar.2022.813818
Objective
To investigate the antifungal activities and mechanisms of action of the Cao Huang Gui Xiang (CHGX) formula against Candida albicans and other clinical Candida species.
Conclusions
The CHGX formula demonstrated potent antifungal activities against Candida species both in vitro and in vivo, with efficacy in treating C. albicans infection in mice without causing noticeable toxicity. The formula inhibited biofilm formation, filament development, and disrupted cell membrane integrity in C. albicans, leading to the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and depletion of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), ultimately resulting in fungal cell death. The study highlights the potential of CHGX as a therapeutic option for Candida infections and elucidates its antifungal mechanisms involving multiple pathways, including the Ras1-cAMP pathway and mitochondrial protein Mcu1.
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