Topical application of an ethanol extract prepared from Illicium verum suppresses atopic dermatitis in NC/Nga mice

• Published in: Journal of ethnopharmacology 2012-10, Vol.144 (1), p.151-159
• Main Authors: Sung, Yoon-Young, Yang, Won-Kyung, Lee, A Yeong, Kim, Dong-Seon, Jin Nho, Kyoung, Kim, Young Sang, Kim, Ho Kyoung
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: adhesion; Adhesion molecule; Administration, Topical; Allergens - immunology; Allergic; animal models; Animals; Anti-Allergic Agents - pharmacology; Anti-Allergic Agents - therapeutic use; Anti-inflammatory; anti-inflammatory activity; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - pharmacology; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - therapeutic use; atopic dermatitis; calcium; cell adhesion; Cell Adhesion Molecules - immunology; Chemokine; chemokines; Cytokines - blood; Cytokines - immunology; Dermatitis, Atopic - drug therapy; Dermatitis, Atopic - pathology; Dermatophagoides farinae; Dermatophagoides farinae - immunology; dust; dust mites; ears; ethanol; Ethanol - chemistry; Fruit; histamine; Histamine - blood; histopathology; Illicium; Illicium verum; immunoglobulin E; Immunoglobulin E - blood; interferon-gamma; interleukin-4; interleukin-6; Male; mast cells; medicine; Mice; necrosis; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Plant Extracts - therapeutic use; secretion; skin lesions; Solvents - chemistry; topical application; tumor necrosis factor-alpha; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 - immunology
• ISSN: 0378-8741; 1872-7573
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2012.08.042

Illicium verum is a traditional herbal medicine with anti-inflammatory properties used in Asia. However, its usefulness in the treatment of allergic diseases remains unclear. This study evaluated the anti-inflammatory and antiallergic effects of I. verum extract (IVE) in a mouse model of atopic dermatitis. We investigated the effects of IVE on compound 48/80-induced histamine release, and phorbol 12-myristate13-acetate and calcium ionophore A23187-stimulated cytokines secretion in MC/9 mast cells. Atopic dermatitis was induced in NC/Nga mice by exposure to extract of house dust mite (Dermatophagoides farinae). After a topical application of IVE on ear and skin lesions, we evaluated the severity of skin symptoms, ear thickness, inflammatory cell infiltration, and serum levels of immunoglobulin E (IgE), histamine, interleukin (IL)-6, and intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1. In addition, we determined the expression of IL-4, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interferon (IFN)-γ thymus- and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC), regulated on activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES), ICAM-1, and vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1 in ear tissues. IVE inhibited secretion of histamine, IL-4, IL-6, and TNF-α from mast cells in a dose-dependent manner. Topical application of IVE significantly reduced dermatitis scores, ear thickness, and serum levels of IgE, histamine, IL-6, and ICAM-1. Histopathological analysis demonstrated decreased epidermal thickening and dermal infiltration by inflammatory cells. In the ear lesions, IVE treatment reduced expression of IL-4, IL-6, TNF-α, TARC, RANTES, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1, but not IFN-γ. These results indicate that IVE inhibits atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions by suppressing the expression of cytokines, chemokines, and adhesion molecules. These results suggest that IVE may be a potential therapeutic candidate for atopic dermatitis. The antiallergic effects of Illicium verum extract (IVE) on house dust mite Dermatophagoides farinae-induced atopic dermatitis in NC/Nga mice were evaluated by dermatitis score and histopathological analysis. IVE treatment significantly decreased dermatitis severity, epidermal thickening, and inflammatory cell infiltration of the dermis. [Display omitted]