The anti-scratching behavioral effect of the essential oil and phytol isolated from Artemisia princeps Pamp. (AP, family Asteraceae), which is widely used in traditional medicine for inflammatory diseases, was investigated IN VIVO. Treatment of mice with AP essential oil (APEO) and phytol inhibited histamine- and compound 48/80-induced scratching behaviors. The anti-scratching behavioral effects of APEO and phytol are in proportion to their vascular permeability-inhibitory effects. These agents also inhibited the level of allergic cytokines, IL-4, and TNF- α, and the activation of transcription factors, NF- κB and c-jun (AP-1), in histamine-treated skin tissues. Based on these results, APEO and phytol may improve scratching behavior in skin by inhibiting the expression of allergic cytokines via the regulation of NF- κB and AP-1 activation.

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N-Stearoyl-phytosphingosine (SPS) and 4-hydroxysphinganine (phytosphingosine, PS), which are sphingolipids frequently found in mammalian skin, plants, and yeast, have been used as ingredients in cosmetics. In mice, treatment with SPS and PS inhibited histamine-induced scratching behavior and vascular permeability. These agents inhibited the expression of the allergic cytokines, IL-4 and TNF-alpha, and the activation of the transcription factors, NF-kappaB and c-jun, in histamine-stimulated skin tissues. These agents also showed potent anti-histamine effects in the Magnus test using guinea pig ileum. Based on these results, SPS and PS may improve scratching behavioral reactions in skin by regulating the action of histamine and the activation of the transcription factors NF-kappaB and c-jun.