title: Inhibition of atopic dermatitis by topical application of silymarin in NC/Nga mice.
abstract: Silymarin has been known to inhibit chemical-induced irritant contact dermatitis. In the present study, we report that topical application of silymarin suppresses dust mite extract (DPE)-induced atopic dermatitis (AD) in NC/Nga mice. Repeated topical application of ears with DPE caused AD-like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice. However, silymarin reduced AD-like skin lesions in these mice, resulting in decreased ear swelling and leukocyte infiltration into the ear. Moreover, our results showed that mast cell infiltration into the ear was suppressed by silymarin treatment in DPE-treated NC/Nga mice. Silymarin also reduced plasma level of IL-4 and IgE in these mice. Further study demonstrated that the mRNA expression of IL-4 was increased and that of IFN-gamma was decreased by DPE treatment in the ears of NC/Nga mice. However, DPE-induced changes in IL-4 and IFN-gamma mRNA expression were reversed by silymarin. DPE-induced increase in TNF-alpha mRNA expression was also suppressed by silymarin treatment. The results presented in this report suggest that silymarin might be beneficial for the treatment of AD.
authors.affiliation: Bioevaluation Center, KRIBB, Cheongwon, Chungbuk, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jong Soon
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Won Kee
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Mi Hwa
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Hyunju
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chang Woo
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ki Hoon
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sang-Bae
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Kiho
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kyu-Hwan
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Song-Kyu
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Hwan Mook
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D051379:Mice; D039981:Pyroglyphidae / Q000737:chemistry; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012838:Silymarin / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012838:Silymarin