Inhibitory effects of Cinnamomum cassia extract on atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions induced by mite antigen in NC/Nga mice

• Published in: Journal of ethnopharmacology 2011-01, Vol.133 (2), p.621-628
• Main Authors: Sung, Yoon-Young, Yoon, Taesook, Jang, Ja Young, Park, Sang-Joon, Jeong, Gi-Hoon, Kim, Ho Kyoung
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Allergens - administration & dosage; animal models; Animals; Antiallergic; antigens; Antigens, Dermatophagoides - administration & dosage; Atopic dermatitis; Base Sequence; Biological and medical sciences; blood chemistry; Cell Line; chemokines; Chemokines - biosynthesis; Chemokines - genetics; Cinnamomum aromaticum; Cinnamomum aromaticum - chemistry; Cinnamomum cassia; cytokines; Cytokines - biosynthesis; Cytokines - genetics; Dermatitis, Atopic - drug therapy; Dermatitis, Atopic - etiology; Dermatitis, Atopic - genetics; Dermatitis, Atopic - pathology; Dermatophagoides farinae; Dermatophagoides farinae - immunology; Disease Models, Animal; disease severity; DNA Primers - genetics; Ethnopharmacology; General pharmacology; histamine; Histamine - blood; histopathology; Humans; immunoglobulin E; Immunoglobulin E - blood; interferons; interleukin-4; Keratinocyte; Keratinocytes - drug effects; Keratinocytes - immunology; leukocytes; Male; mechanism of action; Medical sciences; medicinal plants; Medicine, Korean Traditional; messenger RNA; Mice; NC/Nga mouse; Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Phytotherapy; plant extracts; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; RNA, Messenger - genetics; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; signs and symptoms (animals and humans); skin; skin lesions; tumor necrosis factor-alpha; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - blood
• ISSN: 0378-8741; 1872-7573
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2010.10.043

The antiallergic effect of Cinnamomum cassia extract (CCE) on mite antigen-treated NC/Nga mice was evaluated by examining skin symptom severity and skin histology. The CCE treatment significantly reduced the dermatitis score, the thickening of epidermis/dermis, and dermal infiltration of inflammatory cells. : Cinnamomum cassia (C. cassia) has been traditionally used to treat allergic disease as well as dyspepsia, gastritis, and blood circulation disturbances. However, the antiallergic properties of C. cassia have not been fully verified using scientific tools. This study investigated the effectiveness of C. cassia extract (CCE) as an antiallergic agent in atopic dermatitis model and underlying mechanism. : The effect of CCE on mite antigen-treated NC/Nga mice was evaluated by examining skin symptom severity, levels of serum IgE, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and histamine, skin histology, and mRNA expression of cytokines in the skin lesions. Moreover, the effect of CCE on TNF-α-and interferon-γ (IFN-γ)-induced chemokine production in human keratinocytes was investigated using ELISA. : CCE treatment of NC/Nga mice reduced the dermatitis score and the levels of serum IgE, histamine, and TNF-α. Histological examination showed inhibition of the thickening of the epidermis/dermis and reduced dermal infiltration of inflammatory cells. In skin lesions, mRNA expression of IL-4, TNF-α, and thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC) was inhibited by CCE treatment. The production of TARC, macrophage-derived chemokine, and RANTES from IFN-γ-and TNF-α-stimulated human keratinocytes was suppressed by CCE treatment in a dose-dependent manner. : CCE inhibits the development of atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice by suppressing the T-helper 2 cell response.