The effect of herbal medicine in innate immunity to Candida albicans

Abstract

Candida albicans (C. albicans) is an opportunistic pathogenic fungus that often causes mucosal and systemic infections. Several pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), such as Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and C-type lectin receptors (CLRs), have been implicated in the host recognition of C. albicans. These PRRs recognize the pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) of C. albicans to activate innate immune cells, thereby rapidly inducing various inflammatory responses by activating intracellular signaling cascades. Herbal medicine and its active components deserve priority development due to their low toxicity and high antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal activities. This review discussed the activities of herbal compounds against C. albicans and their related mechanisms, especially their regulatory role on innate immune cells such as neutrophils, macrophages, and dendritic cells (DCs) implicated in C. albicans infections. Our work aims to find new therapeutic drugs and targets to prevent and treat diseases caused by C. albicans infection with the mechanisms by which this fungus interacts with the innate immune response.

Evaluation of the Antifungal Effect of Rhus verniciflua Stokes Extract for Oral Application Potential

“…Chelerythrine , extracted from Bocconia Houttuynia cordata Thunb, is an effective natural drug against C. albicans and possesses various properties, such as anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, insecticide, and anti-fibrotic activities [ 57 ]. In addition, several other natural drugs, such as Perilla frutescence , Radix pulsatilla (Bai Tou Weng), Cortex phellodendri (Huang Bai), Rhizoma coptidis (Huang Lian), Cortex fraxini (Qin Pi), Coptis chinensis Franch , Phellodendron chinense C.K.Schneid , Paeonia suffruticosa , Paeonia Suffruticoas Andr , Magnolia officinalis , Dioscorea nipponica Makino , and Houttuynia cordata Thunb (Saururaceae family), are involved in innate immunity against C. albicans [ 58 ]. As such, studies on the antifungal efficacy of various natural drugs effective against C. albicans are being actively conducted, but studies on their cytotoxicity should also be conducted to ensure their safety.…”