Title:Phytomedicines are Efficient Complementary Therapies for the Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis: A Review of Mechanistic Insight and Recent Updates
Volume: 19
Issue: 6
Author(s): Mohamad Aidil Tumpang, Nor Amlizan Ramli*Zahid Hussain*
Affiliation:
- Topical and Transdermal Delivery Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Teknologi MARA Selangor, 42300, Puncak Alam,Malaysia
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Teknologi MARA Selangor, 42300, Puncak Alam,Malaysia
Keywords:
Phytomedicines, ethnopharmacology, atopic dermatitis, mechanistic insight, complementary and alternative
therapies.
Abstract: Background: Phytomedicines have been well-accepted alternative complementary therapies
for the treatment of a wide range of acute and chronic skin inflammatory diseases including
chronic herpes, prurigo, psoriasis, and atopic dermatitis (AD). A plethora of in vitro and in vivo studies
have evidenced the therapeutic viability of phytomedicines, polyherbal formulations, plant-based
materials and their decoctions for the treatment of mild-to-severe AD.
Objective: This review was aimed to summarize and critically discuss the convincing evidence for the
therapeutic effectiveness of phytomedicines for the treatment of AD and explore their anti-AD efficacy.
Results: The critical analysis of a wide algorithm of herbal medicines revealed that their remarkable
anti-AD efficacy is attributed to their potential of reducing erythema intensity, oedema, inflammation,
transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and a remarkable suppression of mRNA expression of ADassociated
inflammatory biomarkers including histamine, immunoglobulin (Ig)-E, prostaglandins,
mast cells infiltration and production of cytokines and chemokines in the serum and skin biopsies.
Conclusion: In conclusion, herbal medicines hold great promise as complementary and alternative
therapies for the treatment of mild-to-moderate AD when used as monotherapy and for the treatment
of moderate-to-severe AD when used in conjunction with other pharmacological agents.
