The leaves of Artemisia argyi Lev. et Vant. and A. princeps Pamp. are well known medicinal herbs used to treat patients in China, Japan, and Korea with skin problems such as eczema and itching, as well as abdominal pain and dysmenorrhoea. We investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of Artemisia leaf extract (ALE) using CD mice and Raw 264.7 cells. The effects of ALE on histopathological changes and cytokine production in ear tissues were assessed in mice with CD induced by 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (DNFB). Moreover, the anti-inflammatory effects on production levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and nitric oxide (NO) and expression levels of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were investigated in Raw 264.7 cells. Topical application of ALE effectively prevented ear swelling induced by repeated DNFB application. ALE prevented epidermal hyperplasia and infiltration of immune cells and lowered the production of interferon- (IFN-) gamma (γ), tumour necrosis factor- (TNF-) alpha (α), and interleukin- (IL-) 6 in inflamed tissues. In addition, ALE inhibited expression of COX-2 and iNOS and production of NO and PGE2 in Raw 264.7 cells. These results indicate that Artemisia leaf can be used as a therapeutic agent for inflammatory skin diseases and that its anti-inflammatory effects are closely related to the inhibition of inflammatory mediator release from macrophages and inflammatory cytokine production in inflamed tissues.

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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.SUMMARY DDRC ameliorated skin lesions such as crust, scales, incrustation and petechiae, and lowered erythema index on skin surface in CD miceDDRC inhibited enlargement of dorsal skin and prevented epidermal hyperplasia, hyperkeratosis, and spongiotic changes in inflamed tissuesDDRC reduced the levels of TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-6 in inflamed tissues of CD miceDDRC did not affect spleen/body weight ratio in CD mice. Abbreviations used: DDRC: decoction of Dictamni Radicis Cortex, CD: contact dermatitis, DNFB: 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene, AOO: acetone and olive oil, DEX: dexamethasone, CBA: cytometric bead array

Background:Cabbage, Brassica oleracea var. capitata L., is one of the most common vegetables in the world. Because of its high levels of flavonoids and anthocyanins, cabbage has long been used as a herbal medicine. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of cabbage were also recently been reported.Objective:This study was designed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of cabbage in mice with contact dermatitis (CD).Materials and Methods:We investigated the effects of methanol extract of B. oleracea var. capitata L. (MEBO) on ear swelling, erythema, and histopathological changes in CD mice. Moreover, the effects on cytokine production and the spleen/body weight ratio were investigated.Results:Topical treatment with MEBO inhibited ear swelling and erythema significantly. MEBO also significantly inhibited epidermal hyperplasia and infiltration of immune cells. Furthermore, the levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interferon-gamma, interleukin-6, and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 in inflamed tissues were effectively lowered by MEBO. Finally, MEBO did not affect body weight gain or spleen body weight ratio.Conclusions:These results indicate that cabbage can be used for the treatment of skin inflammation and that its anti-inflammatory activity is closely related to the inhibition of Th1 skewing reactions.SUMMARY MEBO inhibited ear thickness, weight, and erythema in inflamed skinMEBO also prevented epidermal hyperplasia and infiltration of immune cellsThe levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, interferon-γ, interleukin-6, and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 in inflamed tissues were lowered by MEBO. Abbreviations used: AOO: Acetone and olive oil (4:1), CBA: Cytometric bead array, CD: Contact dermatitis, DEX: Dexamethasone, DNFB: 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene, GM-CSF: Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, ICAM-1: Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1, LPS: Lipopolysaccharide, MEBO: Methanol extract of Brassica oleracea, MCP-1: Monocyte chemotactic protein-1, NO: Nitric oxide.