Inhibitory effect of oroxylin A on atopic dermatitis-like symptoms in mice

Scutellaria baicalensis has long been used in Asian traditional medicine to prevent and treat suppurative dermatitis, allergic diseases, inflammation, hyperlipemia, and arteriosclerosis. Oroxylin A is a flavone present in Scutellaria baicalensis . Because the root extracts of Scutellaria baicalensis have been shown to have anti-dermatitis effects, the authors investigated the effects of oroxylin A on chemically-induced atopic dermatitis (AD) in an in vivo AD model induced by 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB) in BALB/c mice. CDNB-induced skin hypertrophy and accumulation of mast cells in the epidermis and dermis were significantly ameliorated by oroxylin A. Increased serum levels of immunoglobulin E, as well as pro-inflammatory chemokines and cytokines in the skin and lymph nodes were significantly ameliorated by oroxylin A. Suppression of immune responses in the skin and lymph nodes by oroxylin A decreased the symptoms of AD. Thus, these results proved that oroxylin A is an effective component of Scutellaria baicalensis for treating the symptoms of AD.