Anti-inflammatory Effects of Extracts of Duchesnea chrysantha in Human Monocytic THP-1 Cells and Human Eosinophilic EoL-1 Cells

Atopic dermatitis is a recurrent or chronic eczematous skin disease with severe pruritus and has annually increased in Korea. In this study, we investigated whether Duchesnea chrysantha (Dc) extracts have an anti-inflammatory effect in human monocytic THP-1 cells and human eosinophilic EoL-1 cells. The dried and powdered whole plants of Dc were extracted with 80% EtOH (Dc-1). The residue was diluted with water, and then successively partitioned with n-hexane, EtOAc, and BuOH to produce the n-hexane (Dc-2), EtOAc (Dc-3), BuOH (Dc-4), and the water-soluble fractions (Dc-5), respectively. The mite extract and LPS increased the production of IL-6, IL-8 and MCP-1 in THP-1 cells and the increase was strongly suppressed by Dc-3 extract, as compare with other extracts. Dc-3 also inhibited the release of IL-6 increased by mite extract and LPS in EoL-1 cells. However, Dc-3 extract increased IL-8 production induced by the mite extract and LPS in EoL-1 cells. These results suggest that Dc extract may be used as anti-inflammatory agents in treating allergic disorders such as asthma and atopic dermatitis.