Anti-allergic activities of Castanea crenata inner shell extracts fermented by Lactobacillus bifermentans

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common chronic inflammatory disease associated with a cutaneous hypersensitivity reaction to an allergen. Although the incidence of AD is increasing these days, therapeutics has yet to be developed for its treatment. The aim of this study was conducted in order to compare and investigate the characteristic between the Castanea crenata inner shell extract (CS) and the Castanea crenata inner shell extract fermented by Lactobacillus bifermentans (FCS) for an anti-atopic medication. The total polyphenol and flavonoid contents were similar to CS and FCS. In the DPPH and superoxide anion radical scavenging, the CS and FCS had the potential for antioxidant activities. Both of them did not exhibit cytotoxicity to HS68 cells. The evaluation of the anti-inflammatory activity in Raw264.7 cells demonstrated that the FCS has inhibited the LPS-induced production of nitric oxide as compared to the CS. The anti-atopic dermatitis test was done through the induction of DNCB in AD hairless mice. The FCS has inhibited the development of the atopic dermatitis-like skin lesion by transdermal water loss, melanin and erythema of the skin as compared to the CS. Moreover, the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL- and TNF- production in hairless mice were inhibited by the FCS treatment. It indicates that the fermentation of the Castanea crenata inner shell has the potential for the treatment of atopic dermatitis.