Topical Skullcapflavone II attenuates atopic dermatitis in a mouse model by directly inhibiting associated cytokines in different cell types

Transdermal delivery of natural products against atopic dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin condition. Natural products have gained traction in AD treatment due to their accessibility, low toxicity, and favorable pharmacological properties. However, their application is primarily constrained by poor solubility, instability, and limited permeability. The transdermal drug delivery system (TDDS) offers potential solutions for transdermal delivery, enhanced penetration, improved efficacy, and reduced toxicity of natural drugs, aligning with the requirements of modern AD treatment. This review examines the application of hydrogels, microneedles (MNs), liposomes, nanoemulsions, and other TDDS-carrying natural products in AD treatment, with a primary focus on their effects on penetration and accumulation in the skin. The aim is to provide valuable insights into the treatment of AD and other dermatological conditions.

In silico-guided synthesis of a new, highly soluble, and anti-melanoma flavone glucoside: Skullcapflavone II-6'-O-β-glucoside

Guided by in silico analysis tools and biotransformation technology, new derivatives of natural compounds with heightened bioactivities can be explored and synthesized efficiently. In this study, in silico data mining and molecular docking analysis predicted that glucosides of skullcapflavone II (SKII) were new flavonoid compounds and had higher binding potential to oncogenic proteins than SKII. These benefits guided us to perform glycosylation of SKII by utilizing four glycoside hydrolases and five glycosyltransferases (GTs). Findings unveiled that exclusive glycosylation of SKII was achieved solely through the action of GTs, with Bacillus subtilis BsUGT489 exhibiting the highest catalytic glycosylation efficacy. Structure analysis determined the glycosylated product as a novel compound, skullcapflavone II-6'-O-β-glucoside (SKII-G). Significantly, the aqueous solubility of SKII-G exceeded its precursor, SKII, by 272-fold. Furthermore, SKII-G demonstrated noteworthy anti-melanoma activity against human A2058 cells, exhibiting an IC50 value surpassing that of SKII by 1.4-fold. Intriguingly, no substantial cytotoxic effects were observed in a murine macrophage cell line, RAW 264.7. This promising anti-melanoma activity without adverse effects on macrophages suggests that SKII-G could be a potential candidate for further preclinical and clinical studies. The in silico tool-guided synthesis of a new, highly soluble, and potent anti-melanoma glucoside, SKII-G, provides a rational design to facilitate the future discovery of new and bioactive compounds.

Exogenous drug-induced mouse models of atopic dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is an inflammatory skin disease characterized by intense pruritus. AD is harmful to both children and adults, but its pathogenic mechanism has yet to be fully elucidated. The development of mouse models for AD has greatly contributed to its study and treatment. Among these models, the exogenous drug-induced mouse model has shown promising results and significant advantages. Until now, a large amount of AD-related research has utilized exogenous drug-induced mouse models, leading to notable advancements in research. This indicates the crucial significance of applying such models in AD research. These models exhibit diverse characteristics and are highly complex. They involve the use of various strains of mice, diverse types of inducers, and different modeling effects. However, there is currently a lack of comprehensive comparative studies on exogenous drug-induced AD mouse models, which hinders researchers' ability to choose among these models. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the features and mechanisms associated with various exogenous drug-induced mouse models, including the important role of each cytokine in AD development. It aims to assist researchers in quickly understanding models and selecting the most suitable one for further investigation.