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Planta Med 2018; 84(15): 1110-1117
DOI: 10.1055/a-0622-8242
Biological and Pharmacological Activity
Original Papers
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Baicalin Ameliorates Imiquimod-Induced Psoriasis-Like Inflammation in Mice

Chien-Hui Hung   *
1   Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Science, College of Medicine, China Medicine University, Taichung, Taiwan
,
Chien-Neng Wang   *
2   Institute of Basic Medical Science, College of Medicine, China Medicine University, Taichung, Taiwan
,
Huei-Hsuan Cheng
1   Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Science, College of Medicine, China Medicine University, Taichung, Taiwan
,
Jiunn-Wang Liao
3   Institute of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
,
Yi-Ting Chen
4   Department of Cosmeceutics and Graduate Institute of Cosmeceutics, China Medicine University, Taichung, Taiwan
,
Ya-Wen Chao
4   Department of Cosmeceutics and Graduate Institute of Cosmeceutics, China Medicine University, Taichung, Taiwan
,
Jia Liang Jiang
5   Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, China Medicine University, Taichung, Taiwan
,
Chen-Chen Lee
2   Institute of Basic Medical Science, College of Medicine, China Medicine University, Taichung, Taiwan
5   Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, China Medicine University, Taichung, Taiwan
6   Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, China Medicine University, Taichung, Taiwan
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 05 September 2017
revised 10 April 2018

accepted 23 April 2018

Publication Date:
15 May 2018 (online)

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Abstract

Baicalin is the main flavonoid from the roots of an important medicinal plant, Scutellaria baicalensis, which shows a variety biological activities. Psoriasis is a chronic immune-mediated inflammatory disease that affects the skin. The unmet need of psoriasis is that many patients do not respond adequately to available clinical treatment. In this study, we found that baicalin showed inhibited dermal inflammation in a murine model of psoriasis via topical application of imiquimod. After a 5-day topical imiquimod application, baicalin or the control vehicle cream was to applied to the lesions of BALB/c mice for a further 4 days. The erythema, scaling, and thickness of the epidermal layer significantly improved in the baicalin-treated mice. The levels of interleukin-17A, interleukin-22, interleukin-23, and tumor necrosis factor in the skin significantly decreased after baicalin treatment. Baicalin also inhibited imiquimod-induced interleukin-17A production in skin draining lymph node cells. The infiltration of γδ T cells into the skin lesions induced by imiquimod was also suppressed after baicalin treatment. These results suggest that baicalin inhibited skin inflammation through the inhibition of the interleukin-17/interleukin-23 axis in a murine model of psoriasis.

Key words

baicalin - imiquimod - IL-17 - psoriasis - γδ T cells - Scutellaria baicalensis - Lamiaceae

* These two authors contributed equally to this work.


 

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