Wikstroemia indica (L.) C.A. Mey. is used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat inflammatory diseases such as arthritis and bronchitis. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of an ethanolic extract of W. indica on cutaneous inflammation in mice with 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB)-induced atopic dermatitis (AD). Dermal administration of W. indica ethanolic extract to DNCB-sensitized hairless mice with dermatitis, for two weeks, reduced erythema, scaling, and edema. Skin hydration was improved and transepidermal water loss was reduced at a W. indica concentration of 1%. Furthermore, W. indica also significantly reduced serum IgE and IL-4 concentrations in our mouse model. These results suggest that W. indica has potential as a topical treatment for AD and as an adjunctive agent to control AD.

Stellera chamaejasme, also known as “Langdu”, has been traditionally used for the management of skin-related diseases such as psoriasis and skin ulcers. The aim of this study was to determine whether S. chamaejasme and its major component, luteolin 7-O-glucoside, have a preventive effect on the development of atopic dermatitis in oxazolone-treated BALB/c mice and 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene-treated hairless mice. The epicutaneous applications of oxazolone and 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene evoke an experimental murine atopic dermatitis-like reaction in BALB/c mouse ears and SKH-1 hairless mice. Atopic skin symptoms, including erythema (redness), pruritus (itching), exudation (weeping), excoriation (peeling), and lichenification (skin thickening), responded to treatment with S. chamaejasme aerial parts EtOH extract for 2 or 3 weeks. Histopathological examination revealed S. chamaejasme aerial parts EtOH extract significantly reduced inflammatory cell infiltration when applied to atopic dermatitis mice. In addition, luteolin 7-O-glucoside, the major active compound of the S. chamaejasme aerial parts EtOH extract, decreased serum IgE and IL-4 levels and transepidermal water loss and increased skin hydration, therefore exhibiting strong anti-atopic dermatitis activity in 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene-induced atopic dermatitis mice. In this study, we confirmed antipruritic and antidermatitic effects of S. chamaejasme extract and its main component luteolin 7-O-glucoside in atopic dermatitis murine models. The study shows S. chamaejasme aerial parts EtOH extract and luteolin 7-O-glucoside are most likely to be potential drug candidates for atopic dermatitis treatment.

This study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-atopic dermatitis (AD) effects of haplopine, which is one of the active components in D. dasycarpus. Haplopine (12.5 and 25 mM) inhibited the mRNA expressions of inflammatory cytokines IL-6, TSLP, GM-CSF, and G-CSF and the protein expressions of IL-6 and GM-CSF in TNF-α/INF-γ-stimulated HaCaT cells. In H2O2-induced Jukat T cells, haplopine (25 and 50 mM) suppressed the productions of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-4, IL-13, and COX-2) and increased the mRNA and protein expressions of oxidative stress defense enzymes (SOD, CAT, and HO-1) in a concentration-dependent manner. In vivo, haplopine significantly attenuated the development of AD symptoms in 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB)-stimulated Balb/c mice, as evidenced by reduced clinical dermatitis scores, skin thickness measurements, mast cell infiltration, and serum IgE concentrations. These findings demonstrate that haplopine should be considered a novel anti-atopic agent with the potential to treat AD.

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Naturally occurring saponins have been reported to have anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects. However, the effects of gracillin, a main saponin component of Dioscorea quinqueloba (D. quinqueloba), on atopic dermatitis (AD), have not been previously studied. The aim of this study was to determine whether gracillin isolated from D. quinqueloba has an anti-AD effect on 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB)-induced AD-like skin lesions in SKH-1 hairless mice. Topical co-treatment of gracillin and DNCB for two weeks markedly reduced symptoms typical of AD (redness, itching, swelling and skin lichenification), decreased transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and increased skin hydration. In addition, gracillin strongly inhibited PI-induced IL-4 expression in RBL-2H3 cells and in the skins of AD mice. Our results suggest gracillin is a potential candidate for the prevention and treatment of AD and other inflammatory skin disorders.