Evaluation of the anti-inflammatory activity of sumac fruits (Rhus coriaria L.) in an in vivo model of skin inflammation

The fruits of Rhus coriaria L. are traditionally used in southern Europe and the Middle East as a spice and for the treatment of various skin pathologies. There are several studies demonstrating different biological activities of this plant, including antimicrobial [1] and anti-inflammatory [2] activity. In our previous study we demonstrated the anti-inflammatory activity of Rhus coriaria L. fruit extracts in human keratinocytes [3]. The aim of this work was to investigate the anti-inflammatory activity of two different extracts of the fruit of Rhus coriaria L., macerated ethanol and acetone extracts, in an in vivo model of skin inflammation.

The quantitative analysis, through HPLC-UV, of macerated ethanol showed: flavonoids (0.23%), tannins (4.33%) and anthocyanins (0.031%). The skin of CD-1 mice was co-treated with croton oil and the extracts at three doses (100-300-1000 μg/cm²) for 6 or 24 hours and compared with the untreated group. The extracts showed the ability to reduce the formation of edema and the infiltration of leukocytes induced by croton oil application; the effect was dose dependent after both treatment times. Acetone extract appeared more active than ethanolic in inhibiting the two parameters. The two extracts downregulated some pro- inflammatory genes, in the skin of animals treated at the dose of 1000 μg/cm², including VEGF and IL-6, after 6 hours treatment, while no genes were downregulated by the extracts at 24 hours treatment.

Our in vivo results confirmed the activity observed in human keratinocytes, thus making this plant promising against skin inflammation.

Publikationsverlauf

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
16. November 2023

• References

• 1 Vahid-Dastjerdi E., Sarmast Z., Abdolazimi Z., Mahboubi A., Amdjadi P., Kamalinejad M.. Effect of Rhus coriaria L. Water Extract on Five Common Oral Bacteria and Bacterial Biofilm Formation on Orthodontic Wire. Iran J. Microbiol 2014; 6 (04) 269-275
• 2 Khalilpour S., Bchnammanesh G., Suede F., Ezzat M.O., Muniandy J., Tabana Y., Ahamed M.K., Tamayol A., Majid A.M.S., Sangiovanni E.. Ncuroprotective and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Rhus coriaria Extract in a Mouse Model of Ischemic Optic Neuropathy. Biomedicines 2018; 6 (02) 48
• 3 Khalilpour S., Sangiovanni E., Piazza S., Fumagalli M., Beretta G., Dell'Agli M.. In vitro evidences of the traditional use of Rhus coriaria L. fruits against skin inflammatory conditions. J Ethnopharmacol 2019; 28 (238) 111829