curcumin and Dermatitis--Atopic

Traditional medicine is critical in disease treatment and management. Herbs are gaining popularity for disease management and treatment. Therefore, they can be utilised as complementary and alternative treatment (CAT) ingredients. Atopic dermatitis (AD) is one of the common non-communicable diseases. It is characterised by chronic inflammatory skin disease with intense pruritus and eczematous lesions. AD is associated with oxidative stress, microbial infection, and upregulation of inflammatory cytokines. Both children and adults could be affected by this skin disorder. The prevalence of AD is increasing along with the country's level of development. This review revisited the literature on four medicinal herbs widely used as complementary medicine to manage AD. These therapeutic herbs are commonly eaten as food and used as spices in Asian cuisine. The four food herbs reviewed are

Topics: Azadirachta; Cassia; Complementary Therapies; Coriandrum; Curcuma; Dermatitis, Atopic; Food Ingredients; Senna Plant

Atopic diseases (atopic dermatitis, asthma and allergic rhinitis) affects a huge number of people around the world and their incidence rate is on rise. Atopic dermatitis (AD) is more prevalent in paediatric population which sensitizes an individual to develop allergic rhinitis and asthma later in life. The complex pathogenesis of these allergic diseases though involves numerous cellular signalling pathways but redox imbalance has been reported to be critical for induction/perpetuation of inflammatory process under such conditions. The realm of complementary and alternative medicine has gained greater attention because of the reported anti-oxidant/anti-inflammatory properties. Several case studies of treating atopic diseases with homeopathic remedies have provided positive results. Likewise, pre-clinical studies suggest that various natural compounds suppress allergic response via exhibiting their anti-oxidant potential. Despite the reported beneficial effects of phytochemicals in experimental model system, the clinical success has not been documented so far. It appears that poor absorption and bioavailability of natural compounds may be one of the reasons for realizing their full potential. The current paper throws light on impact of phytochemicals in the redox linked cellular and signalling pathways that may be critical in manifestation of atopic diseases. Further, an effort has been made to identify the gaps in the area so that future strategies could be evolved to exploit the medicinal value of various phytochemicals for an improved efficiency.

Topics: Asthma; Catechols; Curcumin; Dermatitis, Atopic; Fatty Alcohols; Flavonoids; Ginsenosides; Humans; Hypersensitivity; Molecular Structure; Phytochemicals; Resveratrol

Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Bandages; Curcumin; Cyanobacteria; Dermatitis, Atopic; Drug Design; gamma-Cyclodextrins; Humans; Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate; Methylgalactosides; Mice; Molecular Weight; Polysaccharides; Solubility; Water; Wound Healing

Topics: Animals; Curcumin; Dermatitis, Atopic; Drug Delivery Systems; Mice; Polyphenols; Skin

Curcumin, extracted from the roots of Curcuma longa, has been used as an anti-inflammatory agent since the time of Ayurveda. The present work was designed to evaluate the potential of curcumin in amelioration of ovalbumin (OVA) induced AD in mice. Female BALB/c mice were subjected to skin OVA-patch application for a period of 1 week followed by resting period of 2 weeks, and the same protocol was repeated thrice. Curcumin was administered daily at dose of 20 mg/kg (i.p.) for 7 consecutive days during last sensitization phase. The phytochemical ameliorated the OVA-induced skin pathology as evident by normalization of epidermal thickness and suppressed infiltration of inflammatory cells in dermal region. The expression of Th2 promoting cytokines (TSLP/IL-33) and Th2 cytokines (IL-4/IL-5/IL-13/IL-31) was suppressed markedly along with reduced STAT-6 phosphorylation and GATA-3 expression. Curcumin administration also restored the redox balance and phosphorylation status of P65-NF-κB. Additionally, the epicutaneously sensitized mice challenged with aerosolized OVA developed asthmatic features which were effectively thwarted back upon curcumin treatment as reflected by data on total/differential cells in BALF and mRNA expression of Th2 cytokines in lungs. Overall, our findings demonstrate that curcumin treatment blunts the development of AD as well as associated atopic march in experimental mice.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Asthma; Curcumin; Cytokines; Dermatitis, Atopic; Disease Models, Animal; Disease Progression; Female; GATA3 Transcription Factor; Lung; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Ovalbumin; Phosphorylation; Skin; STAT6 Transcription Factor; Th2 Cells; Transcription Factor RelA