Soshiho-Tang, a Traditional Herbal Medicine, Alleviates Atopic Dermatitis Symptoms via Regulation of Inflammatory Mediators

Abstract

Soshiho-tang (SST) is a well-known traditional herbal medicine used for the treatment of many diseases. The aims of this study are to investigate the effects of SST on atopic dermatitis (AD) symptoms and to examine its mechanism. Human keratinocyte (HaCaT) cells were stimulated with tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α)/IFN-γ to induce AD-like keratinocyte environment. 2,4-Dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) was used to induce AD-like skin lesions in the dorsal skin of BALB/c mice. SST and dexamethasone were administered orally for 14 day. As a result, SST treatment increased the expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), an anti-oxidative factor, and the nuclear translocation of NF-E2 p45-related factor 2 (Nrf2). In addition, the treatment also decreased the expression level of inflammatory mediator nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and the adhesion molecule intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). SST treatment (75 and 150 mg/kg) significantly relieved AD symptoms in DNCB-induced AD-like mice by restoring skin thickness, spleen weight, immunoglobulin E (IgE), interleukin 4 (IL-4), pro-inflammatory cytokine expression, and expression of several other mediators. We found that SST alleviates AD-like skin lesions and skin inflammation by modulating various atopic symptoms and inflammatory mediators. Therefore, SST can be used as an alternative drug for the treatment of AD.

Korean traditional herbal formula Soshiho-tang attenuates memory impairment and neuronal damage in mice with amyloid-beta-induced Alzheimer's disease

“…Previously, a potential of SST has been reported as anti-inflammatory medication in various diseases such as asthma, atopic dermatitis and liver injury. 6 , 7 , 8 These reports may support to address the main mechanisms thereby protecting neuronal damages by the SST treatment through activation of the proinflammation-related signaling pathways.…”

“…SST was traditionally used to control febrile diseases in several Asian countries. 1 Recent studies support the notion that SST has potential anti-tumor, 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 anti-inflammatory, 6 , 7 , 8 immune regulatory, 9 , 10 and hepatoprotective 5 , 7 activities in preclinical investigations. Most clinical studies using SST have shown its efficacy for liver problems such as hepatic dysfunction, 11 chronic liver diseases, 12 hepatitis B and C, 13 , 14 and liver cancer.…”

Cell‑penetrating heme oxygenase‑1 in the therapy of atopic dermatitis in mice

“…It was previously indicated that induction of HO-1 plays a protective role in several inflammation-related diseases (7), including AD, and HO-1 has been reported to exhibit therapeutic efficiency in AD (8)(9)(10)(11). Chen and Zhong (16) revealed that HO-1 combined with microRNAs may affect certain skin diseases, such as ischemia, hypoxia, rheumatoid arthritis and AD, by regulating the functions of T cells, dendritic cells and mast cells, and the release of chemokines and cytokines.…”

“…Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) catalyzes the first and rate-limiting step in the oxidative degradation of free heme, and may affect several biological processes of aneurysmal diseases, articular diseases and hepatic gluconeogenesis, among others, via its enzymatic by-products (7). Previous studies on AD mouse models have demonstrated that certain agents, including Soshiho-tang, sulforaphane, dihydroaustrasulfone alcohol (WA-25) and Platycodon grandiflorus root-derived saponins, can alleviate AD-like skin lesions and skin inflammation by increasing the expression of HO-1 and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) (8)(9)(10)(11). Another study also concluded that enhancement of HO-1 expression attenuated the development of skin lesions in mice (12).…”

Nepetin, a Flavonoid Derived From Saussureae Involucratae, Suppresses The LPS-Induced Inflammatory Response in Cultured Human Keratinocytes

“…Therefore, the treatment of atopic dermatitis requires better and safer therapy. Several lines of evidence have suggested the possible application of avonoidenriched herbal product in treating dermatitis [5,6,13,14].…”