Inhibitory Effects of Pterocarpus santalinus Extract against IgE/Antigen-Sensitized Mast Cells and Atopic Dermatitis-Like Skin Lesions.

has been traditionally used as a medicinal plant owing to its anti-inflammatory, anthelmintic, tonic, antihyperglycemic, and diaphoretic properties. We hypothesized that might have therapeutic potential in alleviating allergy and atopic dermatitis. Thus, we investigated the inhibitory effects of extract against allergic responses and 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene-induced atopic dermatitis-like dorsal skin lesions using immunoglobulin E-sensitized rat basophilic leukemia-2H3 mast cells and NC/Nga mice. Degranulation and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were conducted to measure degranulation, proinflammatory cytokine levels, and prostaglandin E concentrations in immunoglobulin E/antigen-sensitized RBL-2H3 mast cells. The therapeutic efficacy of extract in 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene-induced atopic dermatitis was evaluated through morphological, physiological, and immunological analysis. extract inhibited -hexosaminidase and histamine release and reduced tumor necrosis factor-, interleukin-4, and prostaglandin E secretion. Furthermore, extract suppressed atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions by regulating the serum levels of immunoglobulin E and immunoglobulin G2a, and messenger ribonucleic acid expression of T helper cell 1- and T helper cell 2-related mediators in the skin lesions. Histopathological analyses showed a decrease in epidermal thickness and intradermal inflammatory cell infiltration. These results suggested that extract might have beneficial effects in treating allergic and atopic dermatitis-like skin disorders.