Alleviation of atopic dermatitis-related symptoms by Perilla frutescens Britton

Int J Mol Med. 2011 Nov;28(5):733-7. doi: 10.3892/ijmm.2011.763. Epub 2011 Aug 2.

Abstract

To ascertain whether an aqueous fraction of Perilla frutescens Britton (PfB/af) has advantageous anti-atopic dermatitis activity, we used a 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB)-induced animal model of atopic dermatitis symptoms to investigate the effects of the extract. We performed an ear swelling assay by comparing thickness of the DNFB-induced ear, and measured the numbers of eosinophils as well as total immune cells. We analyzed the expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9, interleukin (IL)-31 and of the T-bet transcription factor. The results revealed that PfB/af (100 µg/ml) exhibited strong anti-atopic dermatitis activity, interceding drastic reduction (35%) of the immune response, as measured by the thickness of ear epidermis swelling, and resulting in decreased eosinophil levels (73.7%) in adjacent skin tissues. Collectively, the present results suggest that PfB/af has potential for mitigation of atopic dermatitis-like symptoms induced by DNFB in the mouse.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Dermatitis, Atopic / chemically induced
  • Dermatitis, Atopic / drug therapy*
  • Dermatitis, Atopic / metabolism
  • Dinitrofluorobenzene / toxicity
  • Eosinophils / drug effects
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Interleukins / metabolism
  • Male
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Perilla frutescens / chemistry*
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry
  • Plant Extracts / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Interleukins
  • Plant Extracts
  • interleukin-31, mouse
  • Dinitrofluorobenzene
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 9