Antipruritic Effect of Ethyl Acetate Extract from Fructus cnidii in Mice with 2,4-Dinitrofluorobenzene-Induced Atopic Dermatitis.

Xi Chen,Xueying Zeng,Yan Yang,Zongxiang Tang,Liuzhi Chen,Niuniu Yang,Yingge Zhang,Weiwei Yang,Guanyi Wu,Hao Shi,Rijin Cai,Chan Zhu,Jianqiang Liang

doi:10.1155/2020/6981386

Abstract

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common inflammatory skin disease characterized by intense pruritus and skin lesions. The exact cause of AD is not yet known and the available therapeutic strategies for AD are limited. Fructus cnidii is commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine as an herb for treating chronic itch. However, the mechanism underlying the antipruritic effects of Fructus cnidii is not well understood. In the present study, we investigated the antipruritic effect of locally administered ethyl acetate extract from Fructus cnidii (EAEFC) to 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene- (DNFB-) induced AD in a mouse model. The scratching behavior, skin thickness, dermatitis score, weight, blood immunoglobulin E (IgE) level, and itch-related cytokine levels were subsequently monitored and evaluated. Results showed that EAEFC treatment attenuated the DNFB-induced AD-like symptoms by alleviating the skin lesions and decreasing the dermatitis score. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and toluidine blue (TB) staining analyses demonstrated that EAEFC mitigated the DNFB-induced increase in skin thickness and prevented the infiltration of mast cells. Behavioral tests showed that EAEFC decreased the DNFB-induced acute and chronic scratching behaviors. Furthermore, EAEFC reduced the levels of itch-related cytokines, such as thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), interleukin- (IL-) 17, IL-33, and IL-31, and the DNFB-induced boost in serum IgE. Collectively, these results suggest that EAEFC is a potential therapeutic candidate for the treatment of chronic itch in AD.

Highlights

Atopic dermatitis (AD), one of the most common refractory and chronic inflammatory skin disease, is generally characterized by pruritus, epidermal barrier damage, eczematous skin, papule, seropapule, vesicle, squames, crusts, and abnormal immunological responses [1, 2]
We aimed to demonstrate the antipruritic effect of ethyl acetate extract from Fructus cnidii (EAEFC) in AD mouse model
Despite the lack of a detailed molecular mechanism explaining the antipruritic activity of EAEFC, the results of our study clearly demonstrated that the topical application of EAEFC effectively alleviated the DNFB-induced AD-like symptoms in C57BL/6 mice

Summary

Introduction

Atopic dermatitis (AD), one of the most common refractory and chronic inflammatory skin disease, is generally characterized by pruritus, epidermal barrier damage, eczematous skin, papule, seropapule, vesicle, squames, crusts, and abnormal immunological responses [1, 2]. Pruritus is the major symptom of AD, with an expected prevalence rate between 2% and 5% [3, 4]. Several studies have been focused on understanding the symptoms and mechanisms of AD; these have not yet been fully elucidated, which has limited the development of novel therapeutic strategies. Itch is an unpleasant sensation that induces a desire to scratch, which may be acute or chronic (lasts for 6 weeks or more) [9, 10]. Serious chronic itch is the primary and most problematic feature of AD, with a reported prevalence ranging from 87% to 100% [11]. E complex interaction of various distinct mediators, including cytokines, neuropeptides, and endogenous secreted factors, can induce pruritus Serious chronic itch is the primary and most problematic feature of AD, with a reported prevalence ranging from 87% to 100% [11]. e complex interaction of various distinct mediators, including cytokines, neuropeptides, and endogenous secreted factors, can induce pruritus

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion