Abstract: In order to explore the in vitro conditions about the adherence of Candida to epithelium, an orthogonal design L₈ (4¹×2⁴) including 4 factors and 2-4 levels to compare the percentage of adherences in different levels of each factor was tested. The results showeds that the optimum combination factors enhancing adherence are as follows: phase of Candida (E=34.26); incubation period 12 h (D=33.70); ratio of Candida to cultured cells l:200 (C=34.88); incubation temperature 37 (B=33.86). All four material. tested could inhibit the adherence of C. albicans, among which glycirrhizine is the most poteds. It also indicated that the hequantity of fungi colonized on the surfaces of organs (mouth, intestine) is important to the pathogenesis of candidiasis, and the administration of some Chinese herbal medicines such as glycyrrizine probably could protect hosts from candidiasis.

Key words: Candida albicans, Abherence