Anti-inflammatory Effects of Sanguisorbae Radix on Contact Dermatitis Induced by Dinitrofluorobenzene in Mice.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the anti-inflflammatory effects of Sanguisorbae Radix on contact dermatitis (CD).


METHODS
Mice were sensitized by painting 30 µL of 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) onto each ear for 3 days. Four days later, mice were challenged by painting with 50 µL of DNFB onto the shaved dorsum every 2 days. Sanguisorbae Radix methanol extract (MESR) was applied onto the shaved dorsum every 2 days. The effects of MESR on skin thickness, skin weights, histopathological changes, skin lesions and cytokine production in DNFB-induced CD mice were investigated, as well as its effects on body weights and spleen/body weight ratio.


RESULTS
Topical application of MESR effectively inhibited enlargement of skin thickness and weight (P<0.05). MESR treatment also inhibited hyperplasia, spongiosis and immune cell infiltration induced by DNFB in inflamed tissues and improved lesions on dorsum skin in CD mice. Moreover, treatment with MESR suppressed the increase in the levels of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α,P<0.01) and interferon γ (IFN-γ,P<0.05), respectively. Finally, MESR had no effect on body weight gain or spleen/body weight ratio.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that MESR acts as an anti-inflflammatory agent that decreases the production of TNF-α and IFN-γ, resulting in reductions of skin lesions and histopathological changes in inflamed skin tissues.
School of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University, Pusan, 626-870, Republic of Korea.
Suzy
S
Jo
School of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University, Pusan, 626-870, Republic of Korea.
Junghyun
J
Ryu
School of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University, Pusan, 626-870, Republic of Korea.
Hanna
H
Kim
School of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University, Pusan, 626-870, Republic of Korea.
Miyoung
M
Kim
School of Dentistry, Pusan National University, Pusan, 626-870, Republic of Korea.
Mi Heon
MH
Ryu
School of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University, Pusan, 626-870, Republic of Korea. kronos7@pusan.ac.kr.
Hyungwoo
H
Kim
School of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University, Pusan, 626-870, Republic of Korea.
Su-In
SI
Cho
D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D003877:Dermatitis, Contact / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D004139:Dinitrofluorobenzene; D006965:Hyperplasia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D051379:Mice; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D031993:Sanguisorba / Q000737:chemistry*; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D004139:Dinitrofluorobenzene
Chinese materia medica; Sanguisorba offificinalis; herbal; skin diseases