J Vet Sci.  2010 Mar;11(1):35-41. 10.4142/jvs.2010.11.1.35.

Effect of German chamomile oil application on alleviating atopic dermatitis-like immune alterations in mice

• Lee SH
• Heo Y
• Kim YC

• KMID: 1106155
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4142/jvs.2010.11.1.35

Abstract

Historically, German chamomile (GC) oil has been used for treatment of skin disorders. BALB/c mice were sensitized twice a week with 100 microL of 1% 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) and challenged twice the following week with 100 microliter of 0.2% DNCB for atopic dermatitis induction. Thereafter, 3% GC oil was applied daily (70 microliter, 6 times week) on the dorsal skin for 4 weeks. Saline or jojoba oil was used for the control mice. Blood was collected after second DNCB challenge, and at 2 and 4 weeks after initiating oil application. Serum IgE levels were significantly lowered in the GC oil application group at the end of the 4-week application period. The GC oil application for 4 weeks resulted in reduction in serum IgG1 level compared with that after 2-week application. The GC oil application group showed a significantly lower serum histamine level than the control group 2 weeks after oil application. Scratching frequency of the GC oil application group was significantly lower than either control groups. This study is to demonstrate GC oil's immunoregulatory potential for alleviating atopic dermatitis through influencing of Th2 cell activation.

Keyword

atopic dermatitis; cytokine; German chamomile oil; IgE; mice

MeSH Terms

Animals
Behavior, Animal/drug effects
Chamomile/*immunology
Dermatitis, Atopic/drug therapy/*immunology
Disease Models, Animal
Histamine/blood
Immunoglobulin E/blood
Immunoglobulin G/blood
Interleukin-4/analysis
Male
Matricaria/*immunology
Mice
Mice, Inbred BALB C
Phytotherapy/*methods
Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms
Th2 Cells/*immunology

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Macroscopic photograph of atopic dermatitis mouse skin just after induction by the application of 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) (A). Saline application after atopic dermatitis induction as the control (B), jojoba oil application after atopic dermatitis induction as the vehicle (C), and German chamomile (GC) oil application after atopic dermatitis induction as the experiment (D). B, C and D are macroscopic photographs at 4 week after various application.

• 

  Fig. 2 GC oil-mediated suppression of IgE hyperproduction. Serum IgE levels were measured at the completion of second DNCB challenge, 2 and 4 weeks after initiating dermal application of test compounds. The results are expressed as means ± SE. a,b,cValues with different superscripts are significantly different (p < 0.05).

• 

  Fig. 3 Changes in serum histamine levels of the mice sensitized and challenged with DNCB followed by 4-week dermal application of test compounds. The results are expressed as means ± SE. a,bValues with different superscripts are significantly different (p < 0.05).

• 

  Fig. 4 Effect of GC oil application on production of interleukin-4 (IL-4) from splenic T cells. Splenocytes were stimulated with immobilized anti-CD3 mAb for 48 h. Culture supernatants were collected for measurement of IL-4. The results are expressed as means ± SE.

• 

  Fig. 5 Decreased scratching frequency in GC oil-treated mice. Frequency of scratching on facial and back skin was measured for 30 min one day after the second DNCB challenge (day 1) and the 21st day after initiating GC oil application (day 21). The results are expressed as means ± SE. a,b,cValues with different superscripts are significantly different (p < 0.05).

• 

  Fig. 6 Histophatological findings at 4-week after various application following atopic dermatitis induction. No atopic dermatitis induction as normal mice (A), saline application following atopic dermatitis induction as control mice (B), jojoba oil application following atopic dermatitis induction as vehicle mice (C), and GC oil application following atopic dermatitis induction as experimental mice (D). H&E stain, ×100.

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