Nat Prod Sci.  2019 Sep;25(3):261-267. 10.20307/nps.2019.25.3.261.

Dioscorea japonica Thunb. Ethanolic Extract Attenuated Oxazolone-Induced Atopic Dermatitis-like Skin Lesions in BALB/c Mice

• Jegal J
• Park NJ
• Jo BG
• Kim SN
• Yang MH

• KMID: 2459970
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.20307/nps.2019.25.3.261

Abstract

The rhizomes of Dioscorea japonica Thunb. are widely consumed as food and also used to treat diabetes and polyuria in Korea. This study was undertaken to study the anti-atopic dermatitis effects of a 95% ethanolic extract (DJE) of D. japonica in an oxazolone-stimulated murine model of atopic dermatitis (AD). The therapeutic effects of DJE on AD-like skin lesions were assessed on both ears. DJE (1%) or dexamethasone (0.5%; the positive control) were applied to skin lesions for three weeks. Serum levels of IgE and IL-4 were assessed by ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). Histopathological examinations were performed by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and toluidine blue staining and revealed DJE significantly reduced dermal thickness and inflammatory cell infiltration when applied to oxazolone-treated ear skin. DJE-treated AD mice also showed lower serum levels of IgE and IL-4 than oxazolone-stimulated controls. Our findings demonstrate DJE might be a useful safe, topical agent for the treatment of atopic diseases.

Keyword

Dioscorea japonica Thunb.; Atopic dermatitis; Oxazolone; Interleukin 4

MeSH Terms

Animals
Dermatitis
Dermatitis, Atopic
Dexamethasone
Dioscorea*
Ear
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Eosine Yellowish-(YS)
Ethanol*
Hematoxylin
Immunoglobulin E
Interleukin-4
Korea
Mice*
Oxazolone
Polyuria
Rhizome
Skin*
Therapeutic Uses
Tolonium Chloride
Dexamethasone
Eosine Yellowish-(YS)
Ethanol
Hematoxylin
Immunoglobulin E
Interleukin-4
Oxazolone
Therapeutic Uses
Tolonium Chloride

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Effects of the 95% ethanolic extract of Dioscorea japonica rhizomes (DJE) on the development of oxazolone-induced AD-like skin lesions on the ears of BALB/c mice. (a) Schematic of the experiment; (b) clinical features of oxazolone-induced AD-like skin symptoms; (c) changes in ear thicknesses. Results are presented as the means ± standard errors (n = 7) of two independent experiments. #P < 0.05 vs. the CON group; *P < 0.05 vs. the oxazolone group. CON: vehicle control group, oxazolone: oxazolone-treated group, oxazolone/dexa: oxazolone and 0.5% dexamethasone-treated group, oxazolone/DJE: oxazolone and 1% DJE-treated group.

• 

  Fig. 2 Effects of DJE on histopathological change and epidermal thicknesses in oxazolone-sensitized BALB/c mice ears. (a) Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining; (b) epidermal thicknesses. Results are presented as the means ± standard errors (n = 7) of two independent experiments. #P < 0.05 vs. the CON group; *P < 0.05 vs. the oxazolone group. DJE: 95% ethanolic extract of Dioscorea japonica rhizomes, CON: vehicle control group, oxazolone: oxazolone-treated group, oxazolone-dexa: oxazolone and 0.5% dexamethasone-treated group, oxazolone-DJE: oxazolone and 1% DJE-treated group.

• 

  Fig. 3 Effects of DJE on oxazolone-induced histopathological changes and mast cell numbers in mouse ear skin. (a) toluidine blue staining; (b) mast cell numbers. Results are presented as the means ± standard errors (n = 7) of two independent experiments. #P < 0.05 vs. the CON group; *P < 0.05 vs. the oxazolone group. DJE: 95% ethanolic extract of Dioscorea japonica rhizomes, CON: vehicle control group, oxazolone: oxazolone-treated group, oxazolone-dexa: oxazolone and 0.5% dexamethasone-treated group, oxazolone-DJE: oxazolone and 1% DJE-treated group.

• 

  Fig. 4 Effects of DJE on total serum IgE and IL-4 levels in oxazolone-sensitized BALB/c mice ears. (a) total serum IgE concentration; (b) total serum IL-4 concentration. Results are presented as the means ± standard errors (n = 7) of two independent experiments. #P < 0.05 vs. the CON group; *P < 0.05 vs. the oxazolone group. DJE: 95% ethanolic extract of Dioscorea japonica rhizomes, CON: vehicle control group, oxazolone: oxazolone-treated group, oxazolone-dexa: oxazolone and 0.5% dexamethasone-treated group, oxazolone-DJE: oxazolone and 1% DJE-treated group.

• 

  Fig. 5 Phytochemical characterization of the 95% ethanolic extract of Dioscorea japonica rhizomes (DJE). (a): HPLC/MS chromatogram of DJE; (b): Structures of dioscin (1) and gracillin (2).

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