Effect of Oral Administration of Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract on Atopic Dermatitis-like Skin Lesion Induced by Oxazolone in Hairless Mice

Effect of oral administration of methanolic extract from Scutellaria baicalensis root (SB) on the development of oxazolone-induced atomic dermatitis (AD)-like skin lesions in hairless mice was investigated. Mice were orally administered SB 250,500 mg/kg/day, or dexamethasone I mg/kg/day for 33 days. Oral administration of SB inhibited the development of clinical symptoms, and reduced dermal mast cell infiltration, but did not show definite suppressive effect on elevation of serum total IgE level under experimental condition. Interleukin (IL)-6 level in serum and the mRNA expressions of IL-4,IL-13, IL-12, interfereon-gamma, transforming growth factor-beta, and fork head box P3 in draining lymph nodes were not significantly affected by SB administration, indicating SB could alleviate AD via the inhibition of mast cell infiltration.