rosmarinic-acid and Skin-Diseases

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is one of the most common skin diseases, and its incidence is increasing in industrialized countries. Furthermore, the epicutaneous application of a hapten, such as 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB), evokes an AD-like lesion in NC/Nga mice under specific pathogen-free (SPF) conditions. Rosmarinic acid (RA) is a secondary metabolite that is frequently found in herbs, and has anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and anti-microbial effects. In this study, we studied whether RA is an effective treatment against DNFB-induced AD-like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice. RA at 1 or 5 μM was found to suppress the productions of interferon (IFN)-γ and interleukin (IL)-4 significantly by activated CD4(+) T cells. Furthermore, an intraperitoneal injection of RA at 10 or 50 mg/kg significantly inhibited skin lesion development and ear thickness and total serum IgE level increases in DNFB-treated NC/Nga mice. In addition, intraperitoneal administered RA at 10 or 50 mg/kg significantly inhibited the infiltrations of CD4(+) T, CD8(+) T, and mast cells into DNFB-induced skin lesions in NC/Nga mice. This study suggests that RA suppresses the development of AD-like dermatitis in DNFB-treated NC/Nga mice by reducing IFN-γ and IL-4 production by activated T cells and total serum IgE levels.

Topics: Animals; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Cinnamates; Depsides; Dermatitis, Atopic; Dinitrofluorobenzene; Haptens; Immunoglobulin E; Interferon-gamma; Interleukin-4; Lymphocyte Activation; Male; Mast Cells; Mice; Rosmarinic Acid; Skin; Skin Diseases

The composition of a centrifuged product obtained from the fresh leaves and stems of Melissa officinalis and skin irritation in the reconstituted human epidermis (Episkin model) have been investigated in comparison to the EtOH-H(2)O (1:1) extract obtained by Soxhlet from the dried plant. Two new sulfated triterpenes (1 and 2) and two ionol derivatives have been isolated for the first time from Melissa officinalis together with caffeic and rosmarinic acids. The structures of compounds 1 and 2 were established by analysis of their spectroscopic data. Both the centrifuged material and its major constituents neither affected cell viability nor caused the release of pro-inflammatory mediators or the decrease of trans-epithelial electrical resistance (TEER) in the reconstituted human epidermis.

Topics: Epidermis; Humans; Irritants; Melissa; Models, Biological; Molecular Structure; Plant Leaves; Plant Stems; Plants, Medicinal; Saponins; Skin Diseases; Sulfuric Acid Esters; Triterpenes