Atopic dermatitis (AD) is one of the most prevalent chronic skin inflammatory disorders requiring continuous treatment and care. Pterostilbene (PTN) belongs to stilbene and is a polyphenolic compound of natural origin. It is similar to resveratrol and has analogous anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and anti-carcinogenic characteristics. This study was intended to evaluate the effect of PTN against atopic dermatitis. The disease was induced by sensitization with 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) in mice. The standard control group (SCG) received topical 0.1% tacrolimus (TC), whereas three other treatment groups received daily topical PTN at 0.2, 0.6, and 1% w/w for 28 days. Dermatitis scoring, ear thickness, and body weight of animals were weekly determined while other parameters were assessed at the termination of the experiment. PTN reduced the ear weight, skin thickness, and the weight and size of thymus glands and spleen in comparison with diseased animals. PTN also reduced the elevated immunoglobulin E (IgE) level and blood inflammatory cells in diseased mice. The histopathological findings showed a decreased epidermal thickness in PTN-treated groups. Moreover, treatment with PTN improved the amount of oxidative stress markers in the skin of the diseased mice. The expressions of IL-4, IL-6, TNF-α, and NF-κB in the skin of diseased mice were also reduced by PTN. This study concludes that PTN ameliorated the symptoms of atopic dermatitis through the reduction of inflammation, oxidative damage, and inflammatory cytokines in the skin of diseased animals. Therefore, PTN must be further investigated for the treatment of AD complications and other inflammatory skin disorders.
Keywords: Atopic dermatitis; Cytokines; Inflammation; Oxidative stress; Pterostilbene.
© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.