Chinese Medicine formula dong quai found to improve pruritus and skin inflammation

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic skin condition that commonly occurs in children, but may also occur in adults. A study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food found that the topical application of dong quai (Angelica sinensis), also known as female ginseng, can help provide relief from the condition’s symptoms.

• The researchers induced atopic dermatitis in rats by applying the skin irritant 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB).
• A. sinensis (AS) was applied to the affected area of the skin for 11 days.
• The researchers took note of alterations to skin thickness, the number of mast cells, the level of serum immunoglobulin E (IgE), the severity of the animals’ scratching behavior, and the expression of substance P. To determine the treatment’s effects on skin inflammation, the researchers noted changes in the levels of cytokines, nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-kappa-B), phospho-I-kappa-B-alpha, and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs).
• It was observed that repeated treatments with AS inhibited skin thickness and reduced the number of mast cells, the level of serum IgE, the animals’ scratching behavior, and the expression of substance P. The treatment also decreased the levels of cytokines in the skin.

The researchers concluded that AS, used as a topical treatment, can help modulate the pruritus and inflammation that characterize atopic dermatitis. They did admit, however, that further research is needed to determine the exact mechanism of AS.

Learn how to soothe atopic dermatitis naturally at Remedies.news.

Journal Reference:

Lee J, Choi Y-Y, Kim M-H, Han J-M, Lee J-E, Kim E-H, Hong J, Kim J, Yang W-M. TOPICAL APPLICATION OF ANGELICA SINENSIS IMPROVES PRURITUS AND SKIN INFLAMMATION IN MICE WITH ATOPIC DERMATITIS-LIKE SYMPTOMS. Journal of Medicinal Food. 8 January 2016;19(1). DOI: 10.1089/jmf.2015.3489