Fermented barley extract suppresses the development of atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice, probably by inhibiting inflammatory cytokines

• Published in: Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry biotechnology, and biochemistry, 2009-03, Vol.73 (3), p.489-493
• Main Authors: Iguchi, T.(YAEGAKI Bio-industry Inc., Himeji, Hyogo (Japan)), Kawata, A, Watanabe, T, Mazumder, T.K, Tanabe, S
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: allergy; Animals; atopic dermatitis; BARLEY; BAZO; Behavior, Animal - drug effects; Biological and medical sciences; BLOOD SERUM; Body Weight - drug effects; CEBADA; CITOQUINAS; CYTOKINE; CYTOKINES; Cytokines - antagonists & inhibitors; Cytokines - metabolism; DERMATITE; DERMATITIS; Dermatitis, Atopic - pathology; Dermatitis, Atopic - prevention & control; EXTRACTOS; EXTRACTS; EXTRAIT; Female; FERMENTACION; FERMENTATION; fermented barley extract; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Haptens - adverse effects; Hordeum - chemistry; Hordeum - metabolism; Hordeum vulgare; Immunoglobulin E - blood; IMMUNOGLOBULINE; IMMUNOGLOBULINS; Inflammation - metabolism; Inflammation - prevention & control; INHIBICION; INHIBITION; INMUNOGLOBULINA; interferon-γ (IFN-γ); interleukin-17 (IL-17); Mice; ORGE; PEAU; PIEL (ANIMAL); Plant Extracts - pharmacology; RATE; SERUM SANGUIN; SKIN; Skin - drug effects; Skin - metabolism; Skin - pathology; SPLEEN; Spleen - drug effects; Spleen - metabolism; SUERO SANGUINEO
• ISSN: 0916-8451; 1347-6947
• DOI: 10.1271/bbb.80436

We have found that fermented barley extract (FBE), prepared from barley shochu residue, alleviates allergic rhinitis in OVA-sensitized mice. In this study, we examined to determine whether FBE suppresses the development of atopic dermatitis (AD)-like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice. The development of AD-like skin lesions in a 5% FBE containing diet group was significantly inhibited, and scratching behavior, one of aggravating factors, was also suppressed. Neither serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels nor interleukin (IL)-4 production by spleen cells in the 5% FBE diet group was found to be significantly reduced. On the other hand, interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and IL-17 production by spleen cells in the 5% FBE diet group was significantly reduced. Hence it was assumed that FBE alleviates AD-like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice, probably by modulating the cytokine production involved in chronic inflammation, such as IFN-γ or IL-17.