Effect of oral administration of fucosterol from Hizikia fusiformis on DNCB-induced atopic dermatitis in NC/Nga mice

Fucosterol was extracted and purified from the brown algae Hizikia fusiformis. We assessed the anti-inflammatory effects of fucosterol on 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB)-induced atopic dermatitis (AD)-like lesions in NC/Nga mice. Fucosterol decreased the lipopolysaccharide-induced production of nitric oxide in mouse macrophage cells. Oral administration of fucosterol (200 mg/kg weight/day) decreased the frequency of scratching, epidermal thickness of the dorsal skin, and number of degranulated mast cells. In addition, fucosterol treatment decreased levels of DNCB-stimulated serum immunoglobulin E (IgE). Compared to the control concanavalin A, fucosterol inhibited levels of IL-4 and TNF-α and increased secretion of IFN-γ, in the media of cultured splenocytes. Taken together, our results suggest that fucosterol may attenuate AD-like lesions by exerting anti-inflammatory effects, including inhibition of IgE and inflammatory cytokines, which modulate the Th1/Th2 balance.