Abstract
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that may be related to gut microbes. Schizonepeta Tenuifolia Briquet (STB) and Alpinia Oxyphylla Miquel (AOM) has traditionally been used for anti-inflammatory activity. We evaluated the effects of STB, AOM and STB+AOM extracts on 2,4-dinitro-1-chlorobenzene (DNCB)-induced AD skin lesions in Nc/Nga mice and action mechanism was explored. AD lesions were induced in the dorsal skin of Nc/Nga mice by topical application of 1% followed by 0.2% DNCB. After DNCB was applied, the mice had topical applications of either 30% water, 0.01% dexamethasone, 30% STB, 30% AOM, 15% STB + 15% AOM extracts in butylene glycol (BG). Each group was also fed corresponding high-fat diets with 1% dextrin (AD-Con and AD-Positive), 1% STB (AD-STB), 1% AOM (AD-AOM) and 0.5% STB + 0.5% (AD-MIX). Normal-control mice had no DNCB application. The study evaluated the skin AD severity, scratching behavior and weight changes of AD mice for 5 weeks. Compared with AD-Con, AD-STB, AD-AOM and AD-MIX alleviated the clinical AD symptoms (erythema, pruritus, edema, erosion and lichenification and scratching behaviors), normalized immune chemistry (serum IgE concentration, mast cells and eosinophil infiltration), improved skin hyperplasia and enhanced the gut microbiome. AD-STB, AD-AOM, AD-MIX and AD-positive treatments inhibited cutaneous mRNA expression of TNF-α, IL-4 and IL-13 and serum IgE concentrations. AD-MIX most effectively reduced clinical AD symptoms and proinflammatory cytokines. AD-Positive also reduced them but serum GOT and GPT concentrations were abnormally high. AD-STB and AD-MIX increased the alpha-diversity of fecal bacteria and reduced the serum acetate concentration, compared to the AD-Con. In conclusion, the mixture of STB and AOM is effective for treating AD symptoms locally and systemically without adverse effects and are potential interventions for atopic dermatitis.
Highlights
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a complex, chronic, recurrent inflammatory disease [1,2]
The final body weight was lower in the AD-Con than the Norma-Con whereas AD-Alpinia Oxyphylla Miquel (AOM) and AD-MIX retained body weights were similar to the Normal-Con
Since there was no significant difference in initial body weight among the groups, the weight gain during the 5-week experiment was lower in AD-Con and AD-Positive than the Normal-Con and it significantly increased in the ascending order of AD-Positive, AD-Con, AD-Schizonepeta Tenuifolia Briquet (STB), AD-AOM, AD-MIX and Normal-Con (p < 0.05)
Summary
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a complex, chronic, recurrent inflammatory disease [1,2]. Its etiology involves interactions between the internal immune system and external factors [1,2]. About 60% of AD children may have one or more atopic syndromes including allergic rhinitis, food allergies and asthma [3]. This characteristic disease progression is known as the “atopic march” and its pathophysiology is the subject on-going study, it is involved in over-activation of immunity [4]. The etiology of atopic dermatitis remains unclear. AD results in the epidermal barrier dysfunction and overactivation of the immune response to increase inflammation when exposed to allergens
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