Therapeutic effects ofArtemisia scopariaWaldst. et Kitaib in a murine model of atopic dermatitis

Artemisia scoparia Waldst. et Kitaib (AS) (Oriental wormwood, known as Bissuk in Korea) is a plant used in cosmetic and pharmaceutical treatments. However, the effect of AS on atopic dermatitis (AD) has not been described. To examine the inhibitory effect of AS on AD using a murine model. We applied either AS, the butanol‐extracted fraction of AS (Bu‐OH) or 3,5‐dicaffeoyl‐epi‐quinic acid (DEQA, a major component of Bu‐OH) topically for 3 weeks to 2,4‐dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB)‐induced skin lesions in BALB/c mice. AS, Bu‐OH and DEQA suppressed the clinical symptoms of DNFB‐induced skin lesions and he associated scratching behaviour. Numbers of inflammatory cells infiltrating skin lesions were significantly reduced by AS or Bu‐OH application but not by DEQA. In addition, AS significantly suppressed serum levels of histamine and IgE, while Bu‐OH significantly suppressed serum levels of histamine, IgE, thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), interleukin (IL)‐4 and IL‐6, and DEQA significantly suppressed serum levels of histamine, IgE, TSLP and IL‐4 in DNFB‐induced AD mice. In skin lesions, AS and Bu‐OH significantly reduced inflammatory cytokines, whereas DEQA did not. AS, Bu‐OH and DEQA all significantly suppressed caspase‐1 activities. These results demonstrate the anti‐AD effects of AS, Bu‐OH and DEQA, and suggest that all three have therapeutic potential.