Pulsatilla decoction can alleviate vulvovaginal candidiasis by enhancing type I interferon signaling, correcting immune imbalance, and mending mitochondrial function.
A rat model of vulvovaginal candidiasis was developed with estrogen, testing the effects of Pulsatilla decoction. The evaluation metrics involved studying fungal morphology, burden and growth, examining neutrophil numbers, histopathology, and measuring the production of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines and lactate dehydrogenase levels. Methods such as immunohistochemistry, immune fluorescence, Western Blot, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction tests were utilized to gauge type I interferon signaling and mitochondrial function. Additionally, inflammation in epithelial cells was induced in vitro and the changes in interferon signaling and mitochondrial function were observed before and after the application of a Pulsatilla decoction.
Pulsatilla decoction effectively mitigated inflammation, reduced the fungal burden and growth while maintaining a balance between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokine levels in vulvovaginal candidiasis model rats. The tests indicated that this decoction promoted type I interferon signaling while simultaneously easing mitochondrial functional damage. The same effects were observed in vitro using Pulsatilla decoction-containing serum.
