Decoction of Dictamnus Dasycarpus Turcz. Root bark ameliorates skin lesions and inhibits inflammatory reactions in mice with contact dermatitis

Beodeul Yang; Hong-Bum Lee; Sura Kim; Young Chul Park; Koanhoi Kim; Hyungwoo Kim

Articles

Abstract

Pharmacognosy Magazine,2017,13,51,483-487.

DOI:10.4103/0973-1296.211034

Published:July 2017

Type:Original Article

Authors:

Author(s) affiliations:

Beodeul Yang¹, Hong-Bum Lee¹, Sura Kim¹, Young Chul Park², Koanhoi Kim³, Hyungwoo Kim¹
¹Division of Pharmacology, School of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University, Gyeongnam, Korea
²Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Pusan National University, Gyeongnam, Korea
³Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Pusan National University, Gyeongnam, Korea

Abstract:

Background: The root bark of Dictamnus dasycarpus Turcz. (Dictamni Radicis Cortex) has been widely used to treat skin diseases in Korea, and its anti-inflammatory efficacies were recently reported. Objective: The paper aims to investigate the inhibitory effects of decoction of Dictamni Radicis Cortex (DDRC) in mice with contact dermatitis (CD). Materials and Methods: We investigated the effects of DDRC on skin lesion characteristics such as crust, scales, incrustation and petechiae, the erythema and melanin indexes, skin thickness, histopathologic changes, and cytokine production in 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB)-induced CD mice. Results: Topical application of DDRC ameliorated crust, scales, incrustation, and induced by DNFB. In addition, DDRC lowered the erythema index significantly (P < 0.05). DDRC effectively inhibited enlargement of skin thickness (P < 0.05). Histopathologic observation showed that DDRC inhibited epidermal hyperplasia, hyperkeratosis, and spongiotic changes. Finally, DDRC decreased production levels of IFN-γ, TNF-α and IL-6 induced by repeated application of DNFB (P < 0.05). Conclusion: These data suggest that DDRC can be used in the treatment of inflammatory skin diseases including CD. Moreover, these results are closely related to the decreasing production of TNF-α IFN-γ and IL-6 in inflamed tissues.