Pulichalconoid B suppresses experimental dermatitis in mice

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic and recurring inflammatory disease of the skin. This study aimed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory properties of pulichalconoid B, a chalcone that we have isolated from the plant Pulicaria incisa. The in vivo activity of pulichalconoid B was evaluated using the oxazolone model of cutaneous dermatitis and its in vitro activity was studied using isolated splenocytes. Changes in ear thickness, myeloperoxidase activity and production of different cytokines were considered to be indicators of dermal inflammation. Mice that were treated with pulichalconoid B showed a significantly decreased response to delayed-type hypersensitivity induced by oxazolone. Pulichalconoid B significantly reduced oxazolone-induced ear edema, inhibited myeloperoxidase activity and downregulated several cytokines. Pulichalconoid B also inhibited the secretion of cytokines from activated splenocytes. The data suggest that pulichalconoid B may be useful in treating skin inflammations.