The Anti‐Inflammatory Effect of Fructus Kochiae on Allergic Contact Dermatitis Rats via pERK1/2/TLR4/NF‐κB Pathway Activation

Abstract

Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is a common irritability skin disease, which can be cured by using the Chinese patent medicine. To explore the pharmacological effect of total flavonoids of Fructus Kochiae (FK) on ACD, we used dinitrochlorobenzene- (DNCB-) induced ACD rats. Five groups were used in our experiments. The normal group and the DNCB group were treated with 0.5% CMC-Na; the DNCB + hFK group was treated with a high dose of total flavonoids of FK (200 mg/kg); the DNCB + lFK group was treated with a low dose of FK (100 mg/kg); the DNCB + Pre group was treated with prednisolone acetate (2.5 mg/kg). The results showed that FK treatment had significantly attenuated the inflammation induced by DNCB. The increased concentration of cytokines including IL-6, IL-18, and IFN-γ in ACD rats could be reversed by the FK administration, while IL-10 expressed the opposite result; the expression level of TLR4, pERK1/2, and NF-κB could be downregulated by the treatment with FK in the ACD rat. In a word, the total flavonoids of the FK had an anti-inflammatory effect on the DNCB-induced ACD rat; this regulatory mechanism was highly possible based on the pERK1/2/TLR4-NF-κB pathway activation.

Qingpeng Ointment Ameliorates Inflammatory Responses and Dysregulation of Itch-Related Molecules for Its Antipruritic Effects in Experimental Allergic Contact Dermatitis

“…It is well known a number of intracellular kinase cascades would be activated by inflammatory mediators and participate in the generation and maintenance of immune responses in dermatitis (Ayush et al, 2013; Bechara et al, 2017; Oetjen et al, 2017; Li et al, 2018; Xiao and Xiao, 2018). Considering the information from our network pharmacological study (Figure 2 and Supplementary Table S1), expression of several important protein kinases was detected in the skin of mice (Figure 6A–F).…”

“…Signal transduction originating from membrane-bound Th1/2 cytokine receptors is a complex network that leads to intracellular gene expression and ultimately regulates cellular activities. Among them, the mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) (Ayush et al, 2013; Li et al, 2018; Xiao and Xiao, 2018), the nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) (Xiao and Xiao, 2018), the Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) (Bechara et al, 2017; Oetjen et al, 2017) have been intensively studied and strongly implicated with the pathogenesis of skin diseases and inflammation-controlling interventions. Our work supported, probably QP works through p-P38 and p-Erk cell signaling pathways in skin (not DRG, see Supplementary Figure S2, S5) to treat the chronic itch in ACD mice.…”

Kochiae Fructus, the Fruit of Common Potherb Kochia scoparia (L.) Schrad: A Review on Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, Toxicology, Quality Control, and Pharmacokinetics

“…The mechanism might be involved in inhibiting the skewing reaction of T helper cell type 1 [ 22 ]. The total flavonoids of the KF have shown an anti-inflammatory effect on the dinitrochlorobenzene-induced allergic contact dermatitis rats, and the most likely mechanism of this action involves regulating pERK1/2/TLR4-NF- κ B pathway activation [ 42 ]. The anti-inflammatory effect of KF was coincident with its traditional use for inflammations in vagina and skin.…”

Ameliorative effects of total coumarins from the fructus of Cnidium monnieri (L.) Cuss. on 2,4‐dinitrochlorobenzene‐induced atopic dermatitis in rats

“…According to a previous investigation, the topical application of 7% and 2% DNCB (100 μL) was aimed to evoke the AD model in the dorsal skin of rats (Xiao, Xiao, Zhang, Pan, & Ouyang, 2018). First, approximately 4 × 4 cm 2 areas of dorsal skin of rats were shaved by a harmless shaver before the experiment.…”