Anti-inflammatory effects of Asparagus cochinchinensis extract in acute and chronic cutaneous inflammation

Asparagus cochinchinensis Merrill (Liliaceae) is a traditional herbal medicine used for treatment of various diseases [1, 2]. In the present study, we determine the ability of Asparagus cochinchinensis extract (ACE) to inhibit skin inflammation following exposure to the well-characterized protein kinase C activator and tumor promoter, 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) [3]. ACE ameliorate the inflammatory phenotype, leading to substantial reductions in skin thickness (54.3% inhibition) and tissue weight (32.5% inhibition), inflammatory cytokine production, neutrophil-mediated myeloperoxidase activity, and various histopathological indicators (p<0.01). ACE also significantly inhibits phorbol ester–induced irritant contact dermatitis and increases acetic acid–induced vascular permeability (p<0.05). ACE is also effective at reducing inflammatory damage induced by chronic TPA exposure (p<0.01). These results demonstrate that ACE is an effective anti-inflammatory agent in murine phorbol ester–induced dermatitis, and suggest that the compound may have therapeutic potential in a variety of immune-related cutaneous diseases.

References: 1. Huang, K.C. (1993) The Pharmacology of Chinese Herbs. CRC press, Boca Raton, FL.

2. Koo, H.N. et al. (2000)J Ethnopharmacol 73: 137–143.

3. Stanley, P.L. et al. (1991) Skin Pharmacol 4: 262–271.