title: Therapeutic Effects of Korean Red Ginseng Extract in a Murine Model of Atopic Dermatitis: Anti-pruritic and Anti-inflammatory Mechanism.
abstract: Korean red ginseng (KRG) and ginsenosides exhibit diverse biological effects, including anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic. We aimed to investigate the therapeutic effect of KRG in a murine model of atopic dermatitis (AD) is mediated whether by diminishing the pruritus or by suppressing the inflammation. Thirty NC/Nga mice were randomly divided to 5 groups. AD-like skin lesions were induced by percutaneous challenge with 2,4,6-trinitro-1-chrolobenzene (TNCB) on the ears and backs of NC/Nga mice. KRG extract, evening primrose oil, cyclosporine, and phosphate-buffered saline were administered orally by a gastric tube. Each study group was also divided into scratching-permitted and scratching-restricted subgroups to evaluate the impact of scratching behavior on AD. The effects of KRG and the other agents were assessed by measuring the clinical severity score, ear thickness, extent of transepidermal water loss (TEWL), number of scratching movements, total systemic immunoglobulin E (IgE) and interleukin (IL)-31 levels, histologic changes of cutaneous lesions, and mRNA expression levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interferon (IFN)-γ, thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), and IL-31. KRG exerts therapeutic effects against AD by inhibiting the T helper 2 (Th2) mediated inflammation as well as by diminishing the itching sensation. Moreover, restricting scratching behavior suppresses the vicious cycle of itching and scratching, thus reducing clinical and systemic inflammation in our murine model of AD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Incheon St. Mary's Hospital, Incheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun Joo
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0762-8717
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Incheon St. Mary's Hospital, Incheon, Korea. drchosh@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Sang Hyun
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8289-1190
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Cho
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D044466:Asian People; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D036145:Ginsenosides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007378:Interleukins / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D005894:Panax / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D010853:Picryl Chloride / Q000633:toxicity; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011537:Pruritus / Q000188:drug therapy; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014867:Water / Q000378:metabolism; D000094632:Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D036145:Ginsenosides; D007378:Interleukins; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C502588:interleukin-31, mouse; D014867:Water; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D010853:Picryl Chloride; D000094632:Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin
keywords: Atopic; Dermatitis; Panax ginseng; Pruritus