eISSN: 2299-0046
ISSN: 1642-395X
Advances in Dermatology and Allergology/Postępy Dermatologii i Alergologii
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SCImago Journal & Country Rank
2/2022
vol. 39
 
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abstract:
Original paper

L. Cucurbita pepo modulates contact dermatitis in depressed rats through downregulation of proinflammatory cytokines and upregulation of antioxidant status

Nasra Ayuob
1, 2
,
Etedal Hawuit
3
,
Zuhair M Mohammedsaleh
4
,
Dalia Shaalan
5
,
Maryam Mousa Hassn Hawasah
6
,
Khadija Abdulrhman Ahmed Basheikh
7
,
Soad Ali Shaker
2, 8

  1. Department of Medical Histology, Faculty of Medicine, Damietta University, Damietta, Egypt
  2. Yousef Abdullatif Jameel, Chair of Prophetic Medical Applications (YAJCPMA), Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
  3. Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
  4. Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
  5. Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
  6. Prince Abdul Majeed Health Consulting Center, Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia
  7. Diabetic and Endocrine Center in Jeddah, Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia
  8. Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia and Faculty of Medicine, Assuit University, Egypt
Adv Dermatol Allergol 2022; XXXIX (2): 286-297
Online publish date: 2021/02/17
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Introduction
To assess the efficacy of pumpkin fruit (Cucurbita pepo L.) extract (PE) in relieving contact dermatitis (CD) in depressed rats compared to a standard treatment of CD and explore the mechanism behind this effect.

Material and methods
Thirty male albino rats were exposed to chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) for 4 weeks for induction of depression, then exposed to 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) for 2 weeks for induction of CD. The rats were then divided into 3 groups (n = 10 each); the positive control, Betamethasone-treated, and PE-treated groups. Depression was confirmed by the forced swim test and measuring the serum corticosterone level. Proinflammatory cytokines tumour necrosis factor-a (TNF-a), interleukin-6 (IL-6), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were measured in the skin and serum and their mRNA levels were assessed using qRT-PCR. Oxidant/antioxidant profile including levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and catalase (CAT) was assessed in the skin and serum. Histopathological assessment of skin samples was performed and CD4 and CD68 immunoexpression was assessed.

Results
The used PE included a large amount of oleic acid (about 56%) and a small amount of linoleic acid (about 1%). The topical application of PE significantly attenuated inflammation and oxidative changes attributed to CD associated with chronic stress-induced depression comparable to the standard treatment of CD. PE significantly alleviated signs and histopathological score of CD (p < 0.001) through the significant down-regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the significant up-regulation of antioxidants in the skin. Significant down-regulation (p < 0.001) of TNF-a, IL-6, COX-2 and iNOS gene expression in the PE-treated group confirmed the anti-inflammatory action of PE.

Conclusions
The pumpkin extract, applied topically in CD associated with depression, could be an alternative as well as preventive approach in treating CD. Anti-inflammatory and antioxidants activity of pumpkin is a proposed mechanism behind this effect. Further studies to test this effect on volunteer patients of CD are recommended.

keywords:

pumpkin, depression, contact dermatitis, CD4, CD68, Cox2 antioxidants, inflammatory cytokines

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