Planta Med 2004; 70(5): 385-390
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-818963
Original Paper
Clinical Study
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Prevention of Experimentally Induced Irritant Contact Dermatitis by Extracts of Isatis tinctoria Compared to Pure Tryptanthrin and its Impact on UVB-Induced Erythema

Christian Heinemann1 , Sibylle Schliemann-Willers1 , Christine Oberthür2 , Matthias Hamburger2 , Peter Elsner1
  • 1Department of Dermatology and Dermatological Allergology, University of Jena, Germany
  • 2Institute of Pharmacy, University of Jena, Germany
Further Information

Publication History

Received: October 8, 2003

Accepted: February 22, 2004

Publication Date:
04 May 2004 (online)

Abstract

Lipophilic extracts of Isatis tinctoria L. exhibit significant activity against several clinically relevant targets of inflammation. The alkaloid tryptanthrin was identified as one of the active principles in woad and characterised as a potent dual inhibitor of COX-2 and 5-LOX. Here, the anti-inflammatory efficacy of topical application of three different Isatis extracts and tryptanthrin was investigated in human volunteers. Two different models were used, namely the sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS)-induced irritant contact dermatitis (ICD) and UVB-induced erythema. Twenty healthy volunteers without any skin disease participated in the study. Cumulative irritant contact dermatitis was induced on test fields on the volunteers’ backs by twice daily application of 0.5 % sodium lauryl sulphate over a period of four days. Half of the test fields were treated with the test substances during the eliciting phase, while the remaining test fields were treated over a period of 4 days after induction of dermatitis. In the second model, a UVB erythema on the volunteers’ lower backs was induced using the double minimal erythema dose (MED). Twenty-four hours after irradiation the test fields were treated with the test substances over a period of 3 days. All reactions were assessed visually and by non-invasive bioengineering methods (evaporimetry and chromametry). Treatment with extracts during the ICD eliciting phase led to a significantly smaller increase of visual scores and transepidermal water loss compared to the untreated test field. For tryptanthrin this benefit was also observed, but the improvement was not statistically significant. When treatment was performed after completing the eliciting phase, accelerated resolution of the irritant reaction could not be observed. In the UVB erythema model anti-inflammatory effects of the test substances were not observed.

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Prof. Dr. Peter Elsner

Department of Dermatology and Dermatological Allergology

University of Jena

Erfurter Str. 35

07740 Jena

Germany

Phone: +49-3641-937-370

Fax: +49-3641-937-343

Email: elsner@derma.uni-jena.de