Effects of Portulaca oleracea cream on skin pruritus and barrier function in allergic contact dermatitis mice
- VernacularTitle:马齿苋乳膏对变应性接触性皮炎小鼠皮肤瘙痒及皮肤屏障功能的影响研究
- Author:
Xiaoxue WANG
1
;
Xia CHEN
1
;
Xiang PU
1
;
Guanwei FAN
2
;
Xiangyan KONG
3
;
Ying TANG
1
;
Nana WU
1
;
Jiangli LUO
1
Author Information
1. School of Pharmacy，Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine，Guiyang 550025，China
2. Experimental Center，the First Affiliated Hospital of Tianjin University of Chinese Medicine，Tianjin 300193，China
3. Dept. of Dermatology，the First Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou University of Chinese Medicine，Guiyang 550001，China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Portulaca oleracea;
cream;
allergic contact dermatitis;
pruritus;
skin barrier;
inflammation
- From:
China Pharmacy
2025;36(11):1352-1357
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE To study the effects and mechanism of Portulaca oleracea cream on skin pruritus and barrier function in allergic contact dermatitis （ACD） mice. METHODS Low-concentration and high-concentration P. oleracea creams were prepared， with the P. oleracea extract solution （1 g/mL， calculated by crude drug） concentrations of 10% and 20%. Sixty BALB/c mice were randomly allocated into blank group， model group， Mometasone furoate cream group （positive control）， blank matrix cream group， P. oleracea low-concentration and high-concentration cream groups. Except for blank group， ACD model was induced in each group using 2，4-dinitrochlorobenzene solution. The blank group and model groups received normal saline， while the remaining groups were treated with their respective creams， once a day， at a dose of approximately 0.5 g per application， continuously for 14 days. At 24 h post-final administration， skin lesions of mice were observed and scored； pathological changes of skin tissue were observed； serum levels of immunoglobulin E（IgE） and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） were quantified. mRNA expression of MAS-related G protein-coupled receptors （including MrgprA3， MrgprC11， and MrgprD） in dorsal root ganglion （DRG） was assessed； while protein expressions of skin barrier function-related proteins Claudin-1 and Occludin in skin tissues were determined. RESULTS Compared with blank group， mice in the model group exhibited severe skin damage， characterized by loss of epidermal architecture， hyperkeratosis of the skin tissue， and the infiltration of a large number of inflammatory cells. The skin injury scores， as well as the serum levels of IgE and TNF-α， and the mRNA expression levels of MrgprA3， MrgprC11， and MrgprD in DRG， were all significantly elevated compared to the blank group （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）； in contrast， the protein expression levels of Claudin-1 and Occludin in the skin tissue were markedly reduced （P＜0.05）. Compared with model group， mice in P. oleracea low-concentration and high- concentration cream groups demonstrated significant alleviation of skin damage， as evidenced by reduced epidermal hyperplasia， mitigated spongiosis in the dermis， and decreased infiltration of inflammatory cells； these quantitative indicators were almost significantly reversed （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. No significant differences were observed in the aforementioned skin injuries， pathological alterations， or quantitative indicators between the blank matrix cream group and the model group. CONCLUSIONS P. oleracea may ameliorate skin lesions and restore skin barrier function of ACD mice， the mechanism of which may be associated with downregulating mRNA expressions of MrgprA3， MrgprC11 and MrgprD in DRG， and up-regulating the protein expressions of Claudin-1 and Occludin in skin tissue.
