• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.119-131
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• 2015

Objectives : Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by pruritic and erythematous skin lesions. The purpose of this study was to investigate the suppressive effects of Lonicerae Flos, Forsythiae Fluctus and Hwangryunhaedok Decoction Pharmacopuncture on the development of atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions in NC/Nga Mice. Methods : The Atopic Dermatitis was induced by biostir AD on the mice's back skin. Experimental groups were divided into three including LFP(Lonicerae Flos Pharmacopuncture, EtOH extract), FFP(Forsythiae Fluctus Pharmacopuncture, EtOH extract) and HHP(Hwangryunhaedok Decoction Pharmacopuncture, Hydrodistillation extract). Every second day, the mice of three groups were treated with $0.1m{\ell}$ of pharmacopuncture using a syringe at right and left acupoints ($BL_{13}$), alternatively. On the control group, normal saline was used instead of pharmacopuncture. Subsequently optical observation with a handscope, a clinical skin score, Tissue(general/immune) mast cell, Serum IgE level, Serum histamine level, and Serum lymphokine(IL-2, IL-4, $IFN-{\gamma}{\gamma}$) were measured. Results : FFP and HHP decreased the clinical skin score, the total cell number of mast cells, and the Serum total IgE level and Serum histamine level. In Serum lymphokine levels, all groups were decreased to the IL-4 level, LFP and FFP were increased to the IL-2 level, and LFP was increased to the $IFN-{\gamma}$ level. Conclusions : From the above results, Forsythiae Fluctus Pharmacopuncture (EtOH extract) and Hwangryunhaedok Decoction Pharmacopuncture (Hydrodistillation extract) exerted anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory effects, suggesting a promising agent for improving atopic dermatitis related symptoms.