Cinnamomum camphora Leaves Alleviate Allergic Skin Inflammatory Responses In Vitro and In Vivo

In this study, we investigated the therapeutic potential of Cinnamomum camphora leaves on allergic skin inflammation such as atopic dermatitis. We evaluated the effects of C. camphora leaves on human adult low-calcium high-temperature keratinocytes and atopic dermatitis mice. C. camphora leaves inhibited Macrophage-derived chemokine (an inflammatory chemokine) production in interferon-γ (10 ng/mL) stimulated Human adult low-calcium high-temperature keratinocytes in a dose dependent manner. C. camphora leaves suppressed the phosphorylation of janus kinase signal transducer and activator of transcription 1. C. camphora leaves also suppressed the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2, a central signaling molecule in the inflammation process. These results suggest that C. camphora leaves exhibits anti-inflammatory effect via the phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2. To study the advanced effects of C. camphora leaves on atopic dermatitis, we induced experimental atopic dermatitis in mice by applying 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene. The group treated with C. camphora leaves (100 mg/kg) showed remarkable improvement of atopic dermatitis symptoms: reduced serum immunoglobulin E levels, smaller lymph nodes with reduced thickness and length, decreased ear edema, and reduced levels of inflammatory cell infiltration in the ears. Interestingly, the effects of C. camphora leaves on atopic dermatitis symptoms were stronger than those of hydrocort cream, a positive control. Taken together, C. camphora leaves showed alleviating effects on the inflammatory chemokine production in vitro and atopic dermatitis symptoms in vivo. These results suggest that C. camphora leaves help in the treatment of allergic inflammation such as atopic dermatitis.