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EFFECTS OF TOPICAL APPLICATION OF DRY EXTRACTS ON ALLERGIC CONTACT DERMATITIS INDUCED BY 2,4-DINITRO-FLUOROBENZENE, IN BALB/c MICE

CRISTINA ELENA ZBÂRCEA ¹, CORNEL CHIRIŢĂ ¹, SIMONA NEGREŞ ¹, OANA CRISTINA ŞEREMET ^1*, EMIL ȘTEFĂNESCU ¹, ROBERT VIOREL ANCUCEANU ², OCTAVIAN TUDOREL OLARU ², MIHAELA DINU ²

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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.