Kangfuxin, a traditional Chinese medicine, effectively treats vaginal candidiasis by reducing Candida albicans colonization and boosting immune responses.
In the methodology, Kangfuxin's antifungal effectiveness was assessed both in vitro (in lab conditions) and in vivo (in mice). Its minimum inhibitory concentration (the lowest concentration needed to inhibit C. albicans growth) was determined and compared to that of fluconazole, a commonly used antifungal treatment. The study also examined Kangfuxin's impact on drug-resistant C. albicans over time. In the in vivo tests, the treatment's effect on mice body weight and symptoms of vulvovaginal candidiasis were observed, along with changes in gene expression and immune response.
The results showed that Kangfuxin had a greater effect than fluconazole in inhibiting drug-resistant C. albicans, especially after eight hours. In mice, Kangfuxin treatment resulted in weight restoration and symptom reduction. It was found to inhibit the growth and development of C. albicans by downregulating a specific gene related to the organism's growth. Furthermore, Kangfuxin promoted immune responses, particularly the secretion of a specific interleukin and an increase in neutrophils, cells that fight infection, thereby mounting a more robust defense against C. albicans infection.
