A MECHANISTIC INSIGHT OF NATURAL PRODUCTS FOR ECZEMA TREATMENT (PART I)

Abstract

Eczema is termed as a chronic relapsing atopic dermatitis which is a chronic, inflammatory dermatosis mediated by immune system and is characterized by T- helper 2 immune response phenotype. Eczema is associated with disturbance in sleep and it also affects the quality of life. Emollient, antimicrobial agents, corticosteroid or immune-modulating agents are used for treatment of eczema. Pathogenesis of eczema involves complex interactions between susceptible genes, immunological factor, and defects in skin barriers, neuro-endocrine factors and factors related to environment like change in weather, food and aeroallergens. Because there is no cure till date for eczema, Chinese medicines which are part of dietary therapies are being adopted by the Asian patients. In the treatment of skin disorders and wounds a tremendous role has been played by Herbal extracts and isolated plant compounds. Recently a lot of new herbal drugs have been developed that were tested in controlled clinical or preclinical studies. St. John’s wort, licorice, tormentil, bitter substances, evening primrose and many more biomedicines, topical agents: coconut oil, colloidal oatmeal, sunflower oil, mustard oil, glycerin, and oral Chinese herbal therapy are used to treat AD. Probiotics, and vitamins are also used as oral agents in treatment of AD and all these bioagents have shown good results in treatment of atopic dermatitis. Wind, dampness and heat are the three main pathogenic factors of eczema. Various Chinese herb such as cortex moutan radix (danpi), radix paeoniae alba (bai shao), potentilla chinensis ser (weilingcai) and radix glycyrrhizae (gan cao) are common treatments for eczema allergy. It is being indicated in pharmacological studies that these herbs have anti-allergic, anti- inflammatory and sedative action for itchiness . These studied medicinal plants were found to be effective in eczema therapy, further mechanistic and clinical studies are required to establish this claim.