apigenin and Pruritus

Kamillosan(R) cream contains chamomile extract as active principle manufactured from the chamomile sort Manzana which is rich in active principles and has been proved not to exhibit a chamomile-related allergen potential. For this reason Kamillosan(R) cream is suited for local therapy of atopic eczema. In a partially double-blind, randomized study carried out as a half-side comparison, Kamillosan(R) cream was tested vs. 0.5% hydrocortisone cream and the vehicle cream as placebo in patients suffering from medium-degree atopic eczema. After a 2-week treatment Kamillosan(R) cream showed a mild superiority towards 0.5% hydrocortisone and a marginal difference as compared to placebo.

Topics: Administration, Topical; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Arachidonic Acid; Arm; Chamomile; Dermatitis, Atopic; Drug Combinations; Erythema; Humans; Hydrocortisone; Middle Aged; Oils, Volatile; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Plants, Medicinal; Pruritus; Sesquiterpenes; Treatment Outcome

There is a major clinical need for new therapies for the treatment of chronic itch. Many of the molecular components involved in itch neurotransmission are known, including the neuropeptide NPPB, a transmitter required for normal itch responses to multiple pruritogens in mice. Here, we investigated the potential for a novel strategy for the treatment of itch that involves the inhibition of the NPPB receptor NPR1 (natriuretic peptide receptor 1). Because there are no available effective human NPR1 (hNPR1) antagonists, we performed a high-throughput cell-based screen and identified 15 small-molecule hNPR1 inhibitors. Using in vitro assays, we demonstrated that these compounds specifically inhibit hNPR1 and murine NPR1 (mNPR1). In vivo, NPR1 antagonism attenuated behavioral responses to both acute itch- and chronic itch-challenged mice. Together, our results suggest that inhibiting NPR1 might be an effective strategy for treating acute and chronic itch.

Topics: Animals; Behavior, Animal; Cell-Free System; Dermatitis, Contact; Disease Models, Animal; Ganglia, Spinal; Humans; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Knockout; Neurons; Pruritus; Receptors, Atrial Natriuretic Factor; Reproducibility of Results; Signal Transduction; Small Molecule Libraries

The case of a man with type I allergy after the intake of camomile tea is presented. About 30 min after consumption he was hospitalised with palmar pruritus, swelling of the eyelids, upper lip and nasal mucosa as well as narrowness of the throat. Hereditary angioedema was excluded. The skin prick test confirmed the diagnosis of a type I allergy due to camomile tea.

Topics: Anaphylaxis; Chamomile; Humans; Male; Pruritus; Skin Tests; Tea