Inhibition of chronic skin inflammation by topical anti-inflammatory flavonoid preparation, ato formula®

Flavonoids are known as natural anti-inflammatory agents. In this investigation, an anti-inflammatory potential of new topical preparation (SK Ato Formula®) containing flavonoid mixtures fromScutellaria baicalensis Georgi roots andGinkgo biloba L. leaves with an extract ofGentiana scabra Bunge roots was evaluated in an animal model of chronic skin inflammation. Multiple 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate treatments for 7 consecutive days on ICR mouse ear provoked a chronic type of skin inflammation: dermal edema, epidermal hyperplasia and infiltration of inflammatory cells. When topically applied in this model, this new formulation (5–20 μL/ear/treatment) reduced these responses. Furthermore, it inhibited prostaglandin E2 generation (17.1–33.3%) and suppressed the expression of proinflammatory genes, cyclooxygenase-2 and interleulin-1β in the skin lesion. Although the potency of inhibition was lower than that of prednisolone, all these results suggest that Ato Formula® may be beneficial for treating chronic skin inflammatory disorders such as atopic dermatitis.