EFFECTS OF TOPICAL APPLICATION OF DRY EXTRACTS ON
ALLERGIC CONTACT DERMATITIS INDUCED BY 2,4-DINITROFLUOROBENZENE, IN BALB/c MICE
CRISTINA ELENA ZBÂRCEA1, CORNEL CHIRIŢĂ1, SIMONA NEGREŞ1, OANA CRISTINA ŞEREMET1*, EMIL ȘTEFĂNESCU1, ROBERT VIOREL ANCUCEANU2, OCTAVIAN TUDOREL OLARU2, MIHAELA DINU2
1Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and
Pharmacy, 6 Traian Vuia Street, District 2, 020956, Bucharest, Romania
2Pharmaceutical Botany and Cellular Biology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine
and Pharmacy, 6 Traian Vuia Street, District 2, 020956, Bucharest, Romania
*corresponding author: oana.seremet@yahoo.com
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Abstract:
The study investigated the efficacy of dry hydro-alcoholic extracts obtained from the leaves of Amaranthus hypochondriacus
(AMR), Cynara scolymus (CYN), Plantago lanceolata (PLG), Sambucus nigra (SAM) and Rubus idaeus (RUB) topically
administered, in an experimental model of contact hypersensitivity induced by 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) in BALB/c
mice. Hypersensitivity was induced by application of DNFB dissolved in a vehicle of acetone: olive oil 4: 1 (AOO 4:1),
initially on the back of animal and then on the left ear. Extracts were suspended in the same vehicle (0.15%) and applied to
the left ear two hours after DNFB. The effect of the extracts was compared with a control group, which received no
allergenic substance, a positive control group (DNFB) treated with vehicle and a reference group (DNFB + DEX) treated
with dexamethasone dissolved in vehicle (0.0375%). Allergic phenomenon was assessed by measuring ear thickness with a
digital micrometer. Ear thickness was determined initially and at different times of the experiment over a period of 32 days.
For the group DNFB was observed a delayed hypersensitivity reaction on days 10, 28, 30 and 32. Topical administration of
dexamethasone reduced the hypersensitivity reactions. AMR and SAM applied topically, did not show efficacy in reducing
allergic dermatitis. PLG, CYN and RUB applied topically, reduced occasionally the delayed hypersensitivity reaction.
Further research will try to establish extraction fractions obtained from PLG, CYN and RUB in order to identify the active
principles useful in the topical treatment of diseases with allergic component.






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