Quercitrin, the Main Compound in Wikstroemia indica, Mitigates Skin Lesions in a Mouse Model of 2,4-Dinitrochlorobenzene-Induced Contact Hypersensitivity

Abstract EN

Hapten-induced contact hypersensitivity (CHS) is widely utilized to induce immune activation in animal models of allergic contact dermatitis.

Our previous findings suggested that the 95% EtOH extract of Wikstroemia indica (L.) C.

A.

Mey.

has antiallergic and anti-inflammatory effects in DNCB-treated CHS SKH-1 hairless mice.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effects of compounds isolated from the EtOAc fraction of W.

indica in RBL-2H3 cells and 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene- (DNCB-) induced CHS mice.

Of eight compounds in W.

indica, that is, umbelliferone, daphnoretin, wikstrocoumarin, (+)-syringaresinol, tricin, (+)-lariciresinol, erythro-guaiacylglycerol-β-coniferyl ether, and quercitrin, quercitrin exhibited the most antiallergic activity against antigen-induced β-hexosaminidase release and IL-4 mRNA expression, which are markers of degranulation in RBL-2H3 cells.

After a 7-sensitizing period, 14 days of DNCB treatment with or without topical pimecrolimus (1%) or quercitrin (0.5%) treatment, quercitrin was found to suppress DNCB-induced increases in serum IL-4 and IgE concentrations and transepidermal water loss.

These results indicate that quercitrin has therapeutic potential for treatment of allergies and allergy-related contact dermatitis.