• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.8
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• pp.851-859
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• 2014

The present study was designed to investigate whether ethanol extracts of Sophora flavescens (GS), Glycyrrhiza uralensis (GC), Dictamnus dasycarpus (BSP), and their mixtures (GGB-1, -2, -3, and -4) inhibit 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (DNCB)-induced atopic dermatitis (AD) in a mouse model. DNCB was topically applied on the dorsal surface of Balb/c mice to induce AD-like skin lesions. The pathological phenotypes of AD, such as erythema, ear thickness, edema, scabs, and discharge, were significantly decreased in the GGB (DNCB + GS:GC:BSP = 3:1:1 mixture)-1-treated groups compared with the other treated groups. The weight of the spleen in immune organs was significantly decreased in the GGB-1-treated groups, whereas the weight of the liver in a control group was similar to that of the groups treated with the samples. Furthermore, toluidine blue staining analysis, a method used to specifically identify mast cells, showed that master cell infiltration into the dermis of the GGB-1-treated group was significantly decreased. The immunoglobulin E concentration was lower in the GGB-1-treated group. In addition, the levels of inflammatory cytokines (interferon-${\gamma}$, interleukin-1, 4, 5, 6, and 13, $1{\beta}$, and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$) were also significantly reduced in the GGB-1-treated group. Taken together, these results suggest that a mixture of GS, GC, and BSP in a proportion of 3:1:1 (GGB-1) may contribute to the relief of AD symptoms and may be considered an excellent candidate for an AD therapeutic drug.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.7
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• pp.958-963
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• 2012

The antioxidant activities of 6 solvent extracts of Artemisia capillaris were evaluated in a dintroflurobenzen (DNFB)-induced allergic mouse model. In vitro antioxidant activities were determined using DPPH and the FRAP test. Methanol (DPPH: 85.87%, FRAP: 1.772) and $dH_2O$ (DPPH: 60.69%, FRAP: 3.185) extracts showed the highest antioxidant activities compared with other solvents (ethyl acetate 41.81%, 0.407, hexane 8.37%, 0.328, etc.). In addition, we tested atopic dermatitis (AD)-like skin lesions in mice treated with DNFB. The methanol extract of A. capillaris on the AD-like skin lesions in DNFB-induced atopy inhibited ear thickness increases (47%) and the skin lesions (45%) compared with a positive control (methanol). The results suggest that they have potential as natural antioxidants and allergy-improving substances and that they may be valuable materials in the functional food or cosmeceutical industry.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2019.04a
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• pp.120-120
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• 2019

Allergic inflammatory disease has been increased by abnormal lifestyle and food habits. Especially, prevalence of atopic dermatitis (AD) has been elevated and treatment of AD has not been unclear. Red sweet pepper (RSP), named as Capsicum annuum L, has been known as having pharmacological effects such as antioxidant, detoxification and antibacterial effects. However, the beneficial effect of ethanolic extract of RSP on AD has not been partly examined yet. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate anti-inflammatory effects of RSP on AD in vitro and in vivo models. The treatment of RSP inhibited the secretion of inflammatory cytokine such as interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 in tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ and interferon (IFN)-${\gamma}$-stimulated human keratinocyte (HaCaT cell). Also, RSP extract regulated 2,4-dinitroflorobenzene (DNFB)-induced AD-like skin lesions in BALB/c mice. Oral administration of RSP ameliorated DNFB-induced AD-like symptoms. In presented results indicated that RSP inhibited inflammatory cytokines in HaCaT cell and ameliorated AD-like skin lesion through suppression of symptom of DNFB-induced skin inflammation. Thus, RSP might be a potential therapeutic agent for AD.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.331-336
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• 2011

The instability of hirsutenone (HST), a potential therapeutic candidate for the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD) and ovarian carcinoma, is one of the main concerns for the development of drug product. In the present study, aqueous stability of HST was investigated by kinetic analysis, and the effect of several factors covering temperature, nitrogen gas ($N_2$) flushing, and selection of proper antioxidant was compared. Cosolvent system composed of distilled water and methanol (9:1 v/v) was used as a vehicle to dissolve HST at the concentration of $200{\mu}g/mL$. Samples of aqueous solution were prepared under the absence or presence of antioxidants, such as ascorbic acid (AA), sodium edetate (EDTA), and ascorbyl palmitate (AP), and subjected for stability test. The degradation of HST in aqueous solution was followed by the first order kinetics with an extremely short half life of less than a week at room temperature, and was accelerated as the temperature increased. $N_2$ flushing brought a little enhancement in stability compared to control solution, but the effect was insufficient. The addition of AA and EDTA (0.1%) significantly enhanced the stability of HST at $40^{\circ}C$, but the addition of AP (0.01%) was limited due to its water insolubility and revealed no promising result. The stability of HST was increased proportionally by the amount of AA added, showing the difference in degree of stabilization as an order of magnitude. Finally, we conclude that HST was stabilized by the addition of a suitable antioxidant, suggesting AA as the most effective stabilizer.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.41-52
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• 2012

In vitro tests were performed using CST to investigate its role on oxidative damages and inflammatory cytokines. 90% or higher cell viability was observed in CST treated groups from 25 to 200 ${\mu}g/m{\ell}$ using Raw 264.7 cells. CST showed dose-dependent DPPH scavenging activity, with 91.3% and 92.2% scavenging activities at 400 and 800 ${\mu}g/m{\ell}$ concentrations, respectively. CST showed dose-dependent suppression activity of ROS production, especially at 200 ${\mu}g/m{\ell}$ of 41.3%. CST decreased NO production activity, with significant decrease of 16.2% and 33.5% at 100 and 200 ${\mu}g/m{\ell}$ concentrations, respectively. IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, MCP-1 production rate were significantly decreased by 30.0%, 27.2%, 22.1% when Raw 264.7 cells were treated with LPS and with CST of 200 ${\mu}g/m{\ell}$. Also, TNF-${\alpha}$ production rate was decreased by 28.6%. The results above indicated therapeutic effect of CST on the AD through anti-oxidative and immune modulatory effect. Various blending of drug substances with CST should be clinically tested.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.529-535
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• 2016

Atopic dermatitis (AD) results from gene and environment interactions that lead to a range of immunological abnormalities and breakdown of the skin barrier. Protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2) belongs to a family of G-protein coupled receptors and is expressed in suprabasal layers of the epidermis. PAR2 is activated by both trypsin and a specific agonist peptide, SLIGKV-$NH_2$ and is involved in both epidermal permeability barrier homeostasis and epithelial inflammation. In this study, we investigated the effect of lobaric acid on inflammation, keratinocyte differentiation, and recovery of the skin barrier in hairless mice. Lobaric acid blocked trypsin-induced and SLIGKV-$NH_2$-induced PAR2 activation resulting in decreased mobilization of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ in HaCaT keratinocytes. Lobaric acid reduced expression of interleukin-8 induced by SLIGKV-$NH_2$ and thymus and activation regulated chemokine (TARC) induced by tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-${\alpha}$) and IFN-${\gamma}$ in HaCaT keratinocytes. Lobaric acid also blocked SLIGKV-$NH_2$-induced activation of ERK, which is a downstream signal of PAR2 in normal human keratinocytes (NHEKs). Treatment with SLIGKV-$NH_2$ downregulated expression of involucrin, a differentiation marker protein in HaCaT keratinocytes, and upregulated expression of involucrin, transglutamase1 and filaggrin in NHEKs. However, lobaric acid antagonized the effect of SLIGKV-$NH_2$ in HaCaT keratinocytes and NHEKs. Topical application of lobaric acid accelerated barrier recovery kinetics in a SKH-1 hairless mouse model. These results suggested that lobaric acid is a PAR2 antagonist and could be a possible therapeutic agent for atopic dermatitis.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.44 no.8
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• pp.1121-1127
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• 2015

This study investigated the effects of Myagropsis myagroides ethanol extract (MMEE) on 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB)-induced atopic dermatitis (AD)-like skin lesions in BALB/c mice. The effects of MMEE on DNCB-induced BALB/c mice were evaluated by examining skin symptom severity, levels of total immunoglobulin E (IgE), tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$), interleukin (IL)-4, and IL-10 in serum, and levels of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, and $interferon-{\gamma}$ ($IFN-{\gamma}$) in splenocytes. MMEE significantly reduced the total clinical severity score, total IgE levels, as well as $TNF-{\alpha}$ and IL-4 production in an AD mouse model but increased IL-10 production. Production of IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 in splenocytes was reduced by MMEE, whereas $IFN-{\gamma}$ production increased. These results suggest that MMEE can inhibit the development of AD-like skin lesions in BALB/c mice by modulating the immune response and may be an effective potential therapeutic agent for AD.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.196-203
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• 2011

Staphylococcus spp. is one of the most common bacteria isolated from the lesions of atopic dermatitis (AD) in humans, and their colonization is known to be a possible trigger factor of clinical signs. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of Staphylococcus spp. in canine AD (CAD), the types of exotoxins present, and their relation with the clinical severity of CAD. From 79 dogs with AD, 72 samples of Staphylococcus spp. were isolated (91.1%), and 65 (90.3%) were confirmed as Staphylococcus pseudintermedius. Concerning the profile of the exotoxin gene, 50 isolates (69.4%) contained at least one exotoxin gene, and 28 isolates (56%) were found to contain more than 2 different exotoxins. There was a significant difference in clinical severity with the presence of staphylococcal exotoxins (P=0.028), whereas no correlation was found with the presence of Staphylococcus spp. (P=0.598). The clinical severity of CAD increased only in relation to staphylococcal enterotoxin D (SED) and exfoliative toxins (P<0.05). Some clinical evaluation criteria (erythema, papule/pustule) were correlated with the presence of the exotoxin gene (P<0.05). This study showed that the high prevalence of Staphylococcus spp. and staphylococcal exotoxins in lesions from dogs with AD may be regarded as an important trigger factor for exacerbation of the clinical signs of CAD.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2015

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a form of allergic skin inflammatory characterized by late eczematous skin lesions. The incidence of AD is increasing, and it causes problems with administrative costs. Therefore, development of an AD treatment with no side effects is needed. The purpose of this study was to evaluate tuna heart ethanol extract (THEE), a functional extract from by-product of tuna. AD was induced by spreading 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) on the backside of BALB/c mice. The effect of THEE was tested by measuring skin clinical severity score, secretion of cytokines and IgE, and proliferation. Secretion of $TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, and IgE significantly decreased in a THEE-independent manner. In contrast, levels of IL-10 and $IFN-{\gamma}$ significantly increased in mice sera and splenocytes. In addition, THEE alleviated AD symptoms compared to the DNCB only group. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that THEE has an inhibitory effect on AD and may be a useful substance for the development of cosmeceuticals.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.497-503
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• 2017

Recent reports claimed that glucosylsphingosine (GS) is highly accumulated and specifically evoking itch-scratch responses in the skins of atopic dermatitis (AD) patients. However, it was unclear how GS can trigger itch-scratch responses, since there were no known molecular singling pathways revealed yet. In the present study, it was verified for the first time that GS can activate mouse serotonin receptor 2a (mHtr2a) and 2b (mHtr2b), but not 2c (mHtr2c) that are expressed in HEK293T cells. Specifically, effects of GS on all mouse serotonin receptor 2 subfamily were evaluated by calcium imaging techniques. The GS-induced intracellular calcium increase was dose-dependent, and antagonists such as ketanserin (Htr2a antagonist) and RS-127445 (Htr2b antagonist) significantly blocked the GS-induced responses. Moreover, the proposed GS-induced responses appear to be mediated by phospholipase C (PLC), since pretreatment of a PLC inhibitor U-73122 abolished the GS-induced responses. Additionally, the GS-induced calcium influx is probably mediated by endogenous TRPC ion channels in HEK293T cells, since pretreatment of SKF-96365, an inhibitor for TRPC, significantly suppressed GS-induced response. In conclusion, the present study revealed for the first time that GS can stimulate mHtr2a and mHtr2b to induce calcium influx, by utilizing PLC-dependent pathway afterwards. Considering that GS is regarded as a pruritogen in AD, the present study implicates a novel GS-induced itch signaling pathway.