Effect of Aijingxiang decoction on hormone-dependent dermatitis and its mechanism in guinea pig

Objective To explore the effect of Aijingxiang decoction on hormone-dependent dermatitis and its mechanism in guinea pigs. Methods Thirty guinea pigs were randomly assigned into a model group, a treatment group, and a control group (10 in each group).Clobetasol propionate tincture of 0.05% was administered to dorsal skin twice a day for 15 days to guinea pigs of model and treatment group to establish hormone-dependent dermatitis;then Aijingxiang decoction (mainly composed of Folium artemisiae argyi, Schizonepeta tenuifolia, Agastache rugosus, and other Chinese medicinal materials) was administered to the guinea pigs of treatment group by gavage at the dosage of 5 mL/kg once a day for 14 days and the model group was treated the same but with saline.Dorsal skin lesion score was assessed and pathological changes of the skin biopsy were observed for the guinea pigs of the two groups.The expression of serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) was determined with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the expressions of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and caspase-3 protein in skin tissue were detected with Western bolt. Results Compared with the control group, the model group presented obviously pathological changes of dorsal skin, significantly higher dorsal skin lesion score (2.65±0.52), and significantly increased serum IgE (123.07±7.10 IU/mL), TNF-α (1.94±0.22) and caspase-3 (1.76±0.39) (P < 0.05 for all).Compared with the model group, the Aijingxiang decoction treatment group showed attenuated epidermal inflammation and keratinization of dorsal skin, significantly lower dorsal skin lesion score (1.25±0.46), and significantly decreased serum IgE (99.82±4.19 IU/mL), TNF-α (1.44±0.18) and caspase-3 (1.30±0.17) (P < 0.05 for all). Conclusion Aijingxiang decoction is of good therapeutic effect on hormone-dependent dermatitis and the effect may be related to TNF-α-mediated keratinocyte apoptosis in guinea pigs.