Inhibitory effects of Euphorbia supina on Propionibacterium acnes-induced skin inflammation in vitro and in vivo

• Published in: BMC complementary and alternative medicine Vol. 18; no. 1; p. 263
• Main Authors: Lim, Hyeon-Ji, Jeon, Yong-Deok, Kang, Sa-Haeng, Shin, Min-Kyoung, Lee, Ki-Min, Jung, Se-Eun, Cha, Ji-Yun, Lee, Hoon-Yoen, Kim, Bo-Ram, Hwang, Sung-Woo, Lee, Jong-Hyun, Sugita, Takashi, Cho, Otomi, Myung, Hyun, Jin, Jong-Sik, Lee, Young-Mi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 27-09-2018; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Acne; Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Anti-Bacterial Agents - toxicity; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - pharmacology; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - toxicity; Care and treatment; Cell Line; Cell Survival - drug effects; Disease Models, Animal; Euphorbia; Euphorbia - chemistry; Humans; Inflammation; Inflammation - microbiology; Inflammation - pathology; MAP Kinase Signaling System - drug effects; Mice; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Plant Extracts - toxicity; Properties; Propionibacterium acnes - drug effects; Skin - drug effects; Skin - pathology
• ISSN: 1472-6882; 1472-6882
• DOI: 10.1186/s12906-018-2320-8

Euphorbia supina (ES) plant has been used as treatment for inflammatory conditions. The antibacterial effect and the anti-inflammatory mechanism of ES for Propionibacterium (P.) acnes-induced inflammation in THP-1 cells and acne animal model remain unclear. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to determine the antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities of ES against P. acnes, the etiologic agent of skin inflammation.
The antibacterial activities of ES were tested with disc diffusion and broth dilution methods. Cytotoxicity of ES at different doses was evaluated by the MTT assay. THP-1 cells were stimulated by heat-killed P. acnes in the presence of ES. The pro-inflammatory cytokines and mRNA levels were measured by ELISA and real-time-PCR. MAPK expression was analyzed by Western blot. The living P. acnes was intradermally injected into the ear of BLBC/c mice. Subsequently, chemical composition of ES was analyzed by liquids chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS).
ES had stronger antibacterial activity against P. acnes and inhibitory activity on lipase. ES had no significant cytotoxicity on THP-1 cells. ES suppressed the mRNA levels and production of IL-8, TNF-a, IL-1β in vitro. ES inhibited the expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the MAPK signaling pathway. Ear thickness and inflammatory cells were markedly reduced by ES treatment. Protocatechuic acid, gallic acid, quercetin, and kaempferol were detected by LC-MS analysis in ES.
Our results demonstrate antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities of ES extract against P. acnes. It is suggested that ES extract might be used to treatment anti-inflammatory skin disease.