Abstract

The present study was performed to examine whether the leaves of Saururus chinensis (LOUR.) BAILL (SC), an herb used for the management of various skin diseases including atopic dermatitis (AD) in Eastern countries, inhibited the development of AD-like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice which was induced by repeated application of picryl chloride (PiCl). The efficacy of SC was judged by measurement of skin severity, itching behavior, histological study, serum IgE levels, IL-4 and IFN-γ in lymph nodes. Oral administration of SC extract to the PiCl-treated NC/Nga mice for 8 weeks (5 d per week) inhibited significantly the development of AD-like skin lesions macroscopically. Histologically, SC inhibited dermatitis changes like hypertrophy, hyperkeratosis, and infiltration of inflammatory cells into epidermis and dermis. The itching behavior and serum IgE level decreased significantly after SC administration. SC administration enhanced IFN-γ mRNA expression but did not have an effect on IL-4 mRNA expression. These results suggest that SC could inhibit the development of AD-like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice possibly through modulating the Th1/Th2 imbalance by the promoting of Th1 cell response. Thus, SC may be an alternative substance for the management of AD patients. © 2008 Pharmaceutical Society of Japan.

Author keywords

Atopic dermatitis; Interferon gamma; Interleukin-4; NC/Nga mouse; Saururus chinensis; Th1/Th2

Indexed keywords

EMTREE drug terms: gamma interferon; immunoglobulin E; interleukin 4; messenger RNA; picryl chloride; Saururus chinensis extract

EMTREE medical terms: animal experiment; animal model; animal tissue; article; atopic dermatitis; controlled study; dermis; disease severity; drug effect; epidermis; female; histology; hyperkeratosis; immunoglobulin blood level; immunomodulation; lymph node; mouse; nonhuman; plant leaf; protein expression; pruritus; skin hypertrophy; skin inflammation; Th1 cell; Th2 cell

MeSH: Animals; Dermatitis, Atopic; Female; Immunoglobulin E; Interferon Type II; Interleukin-4; Mice; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Saururaceae; Th1 Cells; Th2 Cells
Medline is the source for the MeSH terms of this document.

Chemicals and CAS Registry Numbers: gamma interferon, 82115-62-6; immunoglobulin E, 37341-29-0; picryl chloride, 88-88-0;Immunoglobulin E, 37341-29-0; Interferon Type II, 82115-62-6; Interleukin-4, 207137-56-2; Plant Extracts