Effects of orally administered fingerroot (Boesenbergia pandurata) extract on oxazolone-induced atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions in hairless mice

Fingerroot [Boesenbergia pandurata (Roxb.) Schltr.], belonging to Zingiberaceae, is traditionally used as a spice and for medicinal purposes. In this study, the effects of ethanol extracts of fingerroot on atopic dermatitis (AD) were investigated using hairless mice treated with oxazolone. Oral administration of fingerroot extract (BPE) attenuated dermatitis associated with barrier damage as determined by transepidermal water loss, erythema, and filaggrin expression. Furthermore, infiltration of inflammatory cells and epidermal thickness in the skin was markedly decreased with BPE. BPE significantly decreased serum immunoglobulin (Ig) E and interleukin (IL)-4 levels, but increased IgG2a and interferon (IF)-γ levels. In addition, BPE decreased cytokines and chemokines associated with T helper type 1 (Th1) and type 2 (Th2) cells, and inflammation-associated molecules in the skin. BPE also decreased Th2-associated molecules and increased Th1/regulatory T cell-associated molecules in the spleen. These results suggest that BPE could be a useful functional ingredient in AD treatments.