title: Effects of Korean red ginseng extract on the prevention of atopic dermatitis and its mechanism on early lesions in a murine model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Korean red ginseng (KRG) has been shown to possess various biological activities including anti-inflammatory properties.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to investigate the effects and mechanism of KRG on the prevention of atopic dermatitis (AD) using a mouse model.
  
  
  METHODS
  The effect of KRG in trinitrochlorobenzene (TNCB)-treated NC/Nga mice was assessed by measuring ear thickness, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), total serum IgE, histologic changes of lesional skin, mRNA and protein expression of thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, immunohistochemistry for tissue interleukin (IL)-4, IL-17, and interferon (IFN)-γ.
  
  
  RESULTS
  KRG significantly reduced ear thickness. Oral administration of KRG significantly prevented the increase in TEWL induced by TNCB. The serum IgE level was significantly lower in the KRG group. Histologically, lymphocyte infiltration was markedly decreased by KRG. CD1a positive (CD1a+) cells were diminished by KRG. Immunohistochemically, KRG significantly suppressed the protein expression of TSLP and TNF-α. The mRNA expression of TSLP in the lesions was significantly reduced by KRG. These results demonstrate that oral administration of KRG may inhibit the development of AD-like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice by modifying TSLP, DCs, and at least in part, the Th2 response.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  KRG may be a potential therapeutic modality for the prevention of AD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Eujin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Sang Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Cho
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000378:metabolism; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000378:metabolism; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D005894:Panax / Q000737:chemistry; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010853:Picryl Chloride; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D000094632:Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D020381:Interleukin-17; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014867:Water; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D010853:Picryl Chloride; D000094632:Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin