Confirmed Atopic Dermatitis Treatment Effect of Traditional Herbal Medicine Daechungyeop

Research Results from the Korean Medicine Research Institute

Domestic researchers have discovered the atopic dermatitis treatment effects in the leaves and roots (Isatidis Folium) of 'jjok,' which is widely used for dyeing.

Daechungyeop. Photo by Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine

The Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine announced on the 27th that Dr. Ma Jin-yeol's research team at the Oriental Medicine Technology Application Center revealed the efficacy of Isatidis Folium extract in improving atopic dermatitis. The research results were published on May 8 in the international peer-reviewed journal molecules (IF 4.927).

Atopic dermatitis causes symptoms such as keratinization and itching. In Oriental medicine, it is regarded not simply as a skin disease but as a complex immune disorder caused by internal organ disharmony and circulatory imbalance. Recently, it has become a common condition not only in infants but also among adolescents and adults. It also affects appearance, lowering quality of life, and is considered one of the representative social problem diseases.

The research team has been continuously studying anti-inflammatory and antiviral effects using natural substances such as lotus leaves. This time, they discovered therapeutic substances for atopic dermatitis by utilizing the traditional medicinal herb Isatidis Folium (scientific name: Isatidis Folium) extract.

To verify the efficacy of Isatidis Folium extract, the team conducted experiments on an atopic dermatitis animal model and human epithelial cells (HaCaT cells). The results showed that in the animal model, the group orally administered with Isatidis Folium extract suppressed the production of Immunoglobulin E (IgE), a representative biomarker of atopic dermatitis, by 53% compared to the control group. Additionally, immune cell responses and the production and expression of inflammation-related factors were inhibited by 64% compared to the control group. IgE is a type of antibody that plays an important role in the immune system, mainly related to allergic reactions, and has been linked to allergic diseases such as atopic dermatitis, asthma, and allergic rhinitis.

In epithelial cells, Isatidis Folium extract suppressed the production of substances that induce immune cell migration and reduced pro-inflammatory substances such as histamine and cytokines, alleviating inflammation up to 10 times more than the control group.

Dr. Ma stated, "This research identified the atopic dermatitis treatment effects of the traditional medicinal herb Isatidis Folium and revealed the potential for developing new therapeutic substances. We will continue research to provide solutions for social problem diseases by utilizing excellent oriental medicine materials."

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