Lab Anim Res.  2010 Sep;26(3):265-271.

Inhibitory Effects of Korean Red Ginseng Extract on Atopic Dermatitis in NC/Nga Mice

• Kim HS
• Oh TH
• Song JC
• Kim DI
• Lim AK
• Yang DC
• In JG
• Kim YC
• Kim KS

Abstract

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic eczematous skin disease attended by pruritus, erythema, edema, excoriation, and dryness. This study was to evaluate the effects of Korean red ginseng (RG) on AD in NC/Nga mice treated with 1-chloro-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene (picryl chloride; PC). Experimental groups were divided into 4 groups; normal control (NC), PC control, and PC-RG (50 and 100 mg/kg). RG was orally administered every day repeatedly during 6 weeks. The skin lesions in severity score, scratching behavior, serum immunoglobulin E (IgE), interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) levels, and histological appearance were examined. AD-like lesions were developed on the NC/Nga mice by topical PC applications. Oral administration of RG (50 and 100 mg/kg) significantly suppressed the development of AD, as analyzed by a modified SCORAD score. The scratching behavior decreased after RG administration. The levels of serum IgE, IL-4 and IFN-gamma were increased by PC stimulation, but treatment with RG (100 mg/kg) suppressed the increment of the serum IgE, IL-4 and IFN-gamma levels. Histologically, RG inhibited dermatitis lesions such as hypertrophy, hyperkeratosis, and infiltration of inflammatory cells into epidermis and dermis. These results suggest that the administration of RG may be effective in alleviating the AD induced by PC.

Keyword

Korean red ginseng; NC/Nga mice; atopic dermatitis; picryl chloride

MeSH Terms

Administration, Oral
Animals
Dermatitis
Dermatitis, Atopic
Dermis
Edema
Epidermis
Erythema
Hypertrophy
Immunoglobulin E
Immunoglobulins
Interferon-gamma
Interleukin-4
Mice
Panax
Picryl Chloride
Pruritus
Skin
Skin Diseases, Eczematous
Immunoglobulin E
Immunoglobulins
Interferon-gamma
Interleukin-4
Picryl Chloride

Figure

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  Figure 1. Gross appearance comparison of picryl chloride (PC)-induced atopic dermatitis in NC/Nga mice. NC, negative control; PC, PC control; RG50, red ginseng 50 mg/kg; RG100, red ginseng 100 mg/kg. The photograph shows the back and ears of mice on day 47 after sensitization.

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  Figure 2. Changes of skin severity score. The severity of external skin lesions was macroscopically assessed once a week for 6 weeks after the second picryl chloride (PC) application. The total scores of the skin severity were defined as the sum of the individual score grades from score 0 (no symptoms), score 1 (mild), score 2 (moderate), and score 3 (severe) for each of the following 4 signs and symptoms: erythema (hemorrhage), edema, excoriation (erosion), and dryness (scaling). Values are expressed as the mean±S.E.M (n=7). ∗P<0.05 significantly different from negative control group. #P<0.05 significantly different from PC control group.

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  Figure 3. Changes of skin scratching behavior.

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  Figure 4. Effect of the administration of Korean red ginseng on serum levels of IgE, IL-4 and IFN-γ. Values are expressed as the mean±S.E.M (n=7). ∗P<0.05 significantly different from negative control group. #P<0.05 significantly different from picryl chloride control group.

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  Figure 5. Histological assessment of Korean red ginseng (RG) administration on picryl chloride (PC)-induced atopic dermatitis. The dorsal skins from normal control (NC) group, PC stimulated group (PC) and RG treated [50 mg/kg (RG50) and 100 mg/kg (RG100)] groups after PC stimulation were stained with hematoxylin & eosin. The results shown are representative of three mice in each group. Original magnification (×200).

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