Anti-inflammatory Effects of Ampelopsis Japonica Root on Contact Dermatitis in Mice

Objective To investigate the anti-inflammatory potential of Ampelopsis japonica on contact dermatitis (CD). Methods A total of 38 Balb/c mice were divided into 5 groups by using a random number table: normal mice ( n =6), CD model mice ( n =8), CD mice treated with 3 or 30 mg/kg of the ethanol extract of A. japonica (EEAJ, n =8) and 7.5 mg/kg dexamethasone treated CD mice (DEX, n =8). CD was induced using topical application of 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene in mice. EEAJ and DEX were topically applied to the shaved skin of each mouse for 6 days, and the effects of EEAJ and DEX on skin lesions and color, histopathological abnormalities such as epidermal hyperplasia and immune cell infiltration, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) production were investigated. The effects on changes in body weights and spleen/body weight ratio were also investigated. Results EEAJ at 30 mg/kg significantly prevented scaling, erythema and enlargement of skin weight compared to using carbon dioxide. EEAJ also prevented epithelial hyperplasia and immune cell infiltrations induced by repeated application of DNFB ( P <0.01). In addition, EEAJ significantly lowered levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and MCP-1 ( P <0.05 or P <0.01). The anti-inflammatory effects of EEAJ were similar to those of DEX. Conclusion A. japonica may be a new therapeutic agent with the potential to reduce or replace corticosteroids and its mechanisms are closely related to regulation of TNF-α production.