• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.10-20
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• 2016

Objectives: Poncirus trifoliata Rafinesque has been known to have anti-allergic effects in skin diseases. However, anti-atopic dermatitis effects of P. trifoliata Rafinesque have not been studied yet in skin diseases. The present study evaluated the anti-atopic dermatitis effects of P. trifoliata Rafinesque (PTR) using external treatments on AD. Methods: AD lesions were induced by the repeated application of 2, 4-Dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) on the shaved back of BALB/c mice. $100{\mu}{\ell}$ of PTR extracts was applied to the AD lesions for 11 days. Histological assessments, mast cells count and serum levels of IgE were analyzed. The anti-pruritic effects of PTR were examined by the change of scratching frequency and nerve growth factor (NGF) expression. In addition, the anti-inflammatory effects of PTR were examined by the expressions of Th2/Th1 cytokines and pro-inflammatory in dorsal skin. Results: Histopathological findings showed that topical application of PTR decreased the thickness of dermal and epidermal skin compared with the DNCB group. PTR also notably decreased the mast cells count and serum IgE. The scratching behavior of mice and expression of NGF were significantly reduced. In addition, PTR group significantly suppressed the IL-4, IL-6, IFN-${\gamma}$ and TNF-${\alpha}$ cytokines compared to the DNCB group. Conclusions: These results indicated that P. trifoliata Rafinesque possess anti-pruritus and anti-atopic dermatitis properties. Therefore, P. trifoliata Rafinesque might be used for treatment of pruritus and atopic dermatitis.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.49-56
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• 2017

Objectives : This study investigated the anti-oxidant activities and improving effect of Phellinus linteus and Glycyrrhiza uralensis Extract (PGE) on Atopic Dermatitis. Methods : 2,2′-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical, 2,2′-azino-bis 3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) radical, Hydrogen peroxides scavenging activities and Superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activities were used for the measurement of anti-oxidant ability. Cytotoxicity of PGE in Raw 264.7 cell was evaluated by MTT assay. To evaluate the anti-atopic dermatitis effect of PGE, a total of 33 patients with atopic dermatitis were observed trans epidermal water loss, skin moisture content, modified SCORAD index of atopic dermatitis and pruritic degree after applying the PGE for 4 weeks. Results : PGE scavenged DPPH ($IC_{50}=25ppm$) effectively, ABTS and Hydrogenperoxides scavenged similar to BHA. As for the SOD-like activity, it had lower effect than ascorbic acid, but it comparable activities in 500ppm. There was no cytotoxicity at PGE at concentrations of 10,000ppm. In clinical research about PGE on patients with atopic dermatitis, skin condition was improved. After 4 weeks, the application of PGE increased skin moisture content from 19.43 to 31.22. Moreover, it reduced the skin temperature (from 32.5 to 31.9), skin pH (from 5.39 to 5.22), trans epidermal water loss (from 39.03 to 24.46) and pruritus score (from 6.07 to 3.87). In addition, the Modified SCORAD index decreased from 31.28 to 20.3. Conclusions : In conclusion, PGE possesses anti-oxidant and anti-atopic dermatitis activities, thus it could be potentially valuable as anti-atopic dermatitis material.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.138-145
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• 2013

Citrus fruit contain various flavonoids that have multiple biological activities. However, the content of these flavonoids are changed during maturation and immature Citrus is known to contain larger amounts than mature. Chemokines are significant mediators for cell migration, while thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC/CCL17) and macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC/CCL22) are well known as the typical inflammatory chemokines in atopic dermatitis (AD), a pruritic and chronic inflammatory skin disease. We reported recently that the EtOH extract of immature Citrus unshiu inhibits TARC and MDC production. Therefore, we investigated the activity of flavonoids contained in immature Citrus on TARC and MDC levels. As a result, among the various flavonoids, quercetagetin has stronger inhibitory effects on the protein and mRNA expression of TARC and MDC than other flavonoids. Quercetagetin particularly has better activity on TARC and MDC level than quercetin. In HPLC analysis, the standard peak of quercetagetin matches the peaks of extract of immature C. unshiu. This suggests that quercetagetin is an anti-inflammatory component in immature C. unshiu.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.77-81
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• 2013

Objectives : Horse oil (HO) has been used long time as the folk medicine of many Asian countries such as Korea, Mongol, China, India and Japan. HO has been used for anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-pruritic purposes in skin. However, it is still largely unknown whether HO modulates the skin condition. In this study, we attempted to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of HO on the 1 % of 2, 4-dinitro-1-chlorobenzene (DNCB)-induced contact hypersensitivity in Balb/c mice. Methods : To find the anti-inflammatory effect of HO, contact hypersensitivity, a local inflammatory response of skin, was induced on the back of Balb/c mice by sensitization and repeated application by 1% DNCB and HO treated 2 weeks on the 1% of DNCB-treated Balb/c mice. Excised mice skins were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and serum IgE level was measured by mouse IgE ELISA kit. Results : In this study, we found that HO reduced erythema by 1% of DNCB treated Balb/c mice. Also, HO recovered histopathological features such as the thickening of epidermis, hyperkeratosis and the infiltration of inflammatory cells in 1% of DNCB treated Balb/c mice. In addition, HO reduced IgE level on the serum obtained from blood of 1% of DNCB-treated Balb/c mice. Conclusion : Taken together, these results showed that HO could be used as a pharmaceutical material with anti-inflammatory effects by reducing of erythema, IgE level and recovering of histopathological features skin on DNCB-induced contact hypersensitivity in Balb/c mice model.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.165-173
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• 2014

Objectives : Platycodon Root is frequently used in traditional medicine to treat inflammatory diseases of the throat. The purpose of this study was to characterize the effect of the EtOH extract of fermented Platycodon grandiflorum on the ameliorative effects on the Antipruritic Effect of atopic dermatitis mouse model induced by compound 48/80 and ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic responses in mice. Methods : In the present study, we examined the anti allergic effect of Platycodon grandiflorum (PR) and its fermented production (FPR) in several mouse model. We measured acute ear edema in a mouse model caused by TPA and consecutively histological change of Ear tissue was observed by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. and also Scratching behaviors by compound 48/80 was investigated. The levels of allergic mediators such as immunoglobulin (Ig) E, and anti-oxidant markers such as SOD and MDA in the sera of OVA induced allergic mice were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results : FPR inhibited compoud 48/80-induced scratching behavior in mice, as well as acetic acid-induced writhing in mice. The anti-scratching behavioral effect of FPR was more potent than PR. FPR extract significantly decreased the serum levels of IgE and MDA compared with those of OVA control group. Conclusions : These results indicate that Anti allergic effect of Platycodon grandiflorum is enhanced by fermentation with Saccharomyces cerevisae and FPR may be useful for protection from the itching reactions, which are IgE-mediated representative skin allergic diseases.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.119-131
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• 2015

Objectives : Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by pruritic and erythematous skin lesions. The purpose of this study was to investigate the suppressive effects of Lonicerae Flos, Forsythiae Fluctus and Hwangryunhaedok Decoction Pharmacopuncture on the development of atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions in NC/Nga Mice. Methods : The Atopic Dermatitis was induced by biostir AD on the mice's back skin. Experimental groups were divided into three including LFP(Lonicerae Flos Pharmacopuncture, EtOH extract), FFP(Forsythiae Fluctus Pharmacopuncture, EtOH extract) and HHP(Hwangryunhaedok Decoction Pharmacopuncture, Hydrodistillation extract). Every second day, the mice of three groups were treated with $0.1m{\ell}$ of pharmacopuncture using a syringe at right and left acupoints ($BL_{13}$), alternatively. On the control group, normal saline was used instead of pharmacopuncture. Subsequently optical observation with a handscope, a clinical skin score, Tissue(general/immune) mast cell, Serum IgE level, Serum histamine level, and Serum lymphokine(IL-2, IL-4, $IFN-{\gamma}{\gamma}$) were measured. Results : FFP and HHP decreased the clinical skin score, the total cell number of mast cells, and the Serum total IgE level and Serum histamine level. In Serum lymphokine levels, all groups were decreased to the IL-4 level, LFP and FFP were increased to the IL-2 level, and LFP was increased to the $IFN-{\gamma}$ level. Conclusions : From the above results, Forsythiae Fluctus Pharmacopuncture (EtOH extract) and Hwangryunhaedok Decoction Pharmacopuncture (Hydrodistillation extract) exerted anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory effects, suggesting a promising agent for improving atopic dermatitis related symptoms.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.258-265
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• 2010

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronically relapsing pruritic inflammatory skin disease. To find new anti-inflammatory products for skin inflammatory disease such as AD and contact dermatitis, we produced the effective microorganism fermentation substance (EM-S) by fermentation of medicinal plants with effective microorganisms including photosynthetic bacteria, lactic acid bacteria and yeast, screened the effects of EM-S on NC/Nga model mice. Murine AD-like skin lesions were made by painting Dermatophagoides farinae (Df) extract. Topically applied EM-S significantly reduced clinical severity score, ear thickness and histological grade in AD-like NC/Nga mouse model by Df antigen sensitization. In addition, the serum IgE and Th2 chemokine levels (TARC/CCL17, MDC/CCL22 and CTACK/CCL27) were significantly reduced by EM-S. Futhermore, skin tissue expressions of Th2 chemokines were significantly reduced by EM-S. These results demonstrate that topical application of EM-S may be improve the AD-like skin lesion by suppressing IgE and Th2 chemokines.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.590-596
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• 2016

This study was designed to investigate the antioxidant activities of the ethanol extracts (GBE) of grape branches (Campbell Early). The total polyphenol and flavonoid content of GBE was $201.42{\pm}4.16$ and $11.85{\pm}0.44mg\;GAE/g$, respectively. The antioxidant activity of GBE was measured using the ABTS and DPPH assays, and the $IC_{50}$ values were $45.60{\pm}0.09$ and $299.13{\pm}0.22$, respectively. GBE inhibited the production of pro-inflammatory mediators (NO, iNOS, $PGE_2$, COX-2, $IL-1{\beta}$, and IL-6) in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, GBE treatment significantly suppressed the production of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and IL-6 cytokines in phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate plus calcium ionophore A23187-stimulated HMC-1 human mast cells. Furthermore, the administration of GBE markedly inhibited the scratching behavior induced by the compound 48/80 in ICR mice. These results suggested that GBE has potential as a therapeutic agent against inflammation and itch-related skin diseases.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.470-475
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• 2018

Background: It was previously found that Korean Red Ginseng water extract (KRGE) inhibits the histamine-induced itch signaling pathway in peripheral sensory neurons. Thus, in the present study, we investigated whether KRGE inhibited another distinctive itch pathway induced by chloroquine (CQ); a representative histamine-independent pathway mediated by MrgprA3 and TRPA1. Methods: Intracellular calcium changes were measured by the calcium imaging technique in the HEK293T cells transfected with both MrgprA3 and TRPA1 ("MrgprA3/TRPA1"), and in primary culture of mouse dorsal root ganglia (DRGs). Mouse scratching behavior tests were performed to verify proposed antipruritic effects of KRGE and ginsenoside Rg3. Results: CQ-induced $Ca^{2+}$ influx was strongly inhibited by KRGE ($10{\mu}g/mL$) in MrgprA3/TRPA1, and notably ginsenoside Rg3 dose-dependently suppressed CQ-induced $Ca^{2+}$ influx in MrgprA3/TRPA1. Moreover, both KRGE ($10{\mu}g/mL$) and Rg3 ($100{\mu}M$) suppressed CQ-induced $Ca^{2+}$ influx in primary culture of mouse DRGs, indicating that the inhibitory effect of KRGE was functional in peripheral sensory neurons. In vivo tests revealed that not only KRGE (100 mg) suppressed CQ-induced scratching in mice [bouts of scratching: $274.0{\pm}51.47$ (control) vs. $104.7{\pm}17.39$ (KRGE)], but also Rg3 (1.5 mg) oral administration significantly reduced CQ-induced scratching as well [bouts of scratching: $216.8{\pm}33.73$ (control) vs.$115.7{\pm}20.94$ (Rg3)]. Conclusion: The present study verified that KRGE and Rg3 have a strong antipruritic effect against CQ-induced itch. Thus, KRGE is as a promising antipruritic agent that blocks both histamine-dependent and -independent itch at peripheral sensory neuronal levels.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2012

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic, allergic inflammatory skin disease that is accompanied by pruritic chronic eczema and markedly increased levels of inflammatory cells in endothelial cells. Arctium lappa L. is a popular edible vegetable cultivated in Asia. This study examined the effect of butanol extracts of A. lappa (ALBE) on the expression of adhesion molecule, ICAM-1 and the production of NO-iNOS induced by TNF-alpha in A549 endothelial cells. We also studied the effects of ALBE on the proliferation of keratinocyte. We observed significant inhibition of NO-iNOS production in dose-dependant manners and ALBE at $100\;{\mu}g$/mL suppressed the expression of ICAM-1 in TNF-${\alpha}$-induced A549 cells. In addition, the treatment of ALBE for 48 hrs increased the proliferation of HaCaT keratinocytes. These results support that ALBE has an anti-inflammatory effects for the treatment of atopic dermatitis.