Objective

2

To explore the possible mechanism of

Xiaofeng Powder

（消风散）and its disassembled prescription in treating acute eczema and its compatibility law.

Methods

2

Thirty-six guinea pigs were randomly divided into normal group， model group， loratadine group，

Xiaofeng

Powder

group，

Xiaofeng

Powder

with elimination of dryness-moistening medicinal group， and

Xiaofeng

Powder

with

elimination of exterior-releasing medicinal group， with six guinea pigs in each group. Except for the normal group， external application of 2

4-dinitrochlorobenzene （DNCB） in acetone solution was used on the dorsal depilation area and inner side of the left ear to induce acute eczema model in guinea pigs. After modeling， 5.58 g/（kg·d） of

Xiaofeng

Powder

solution was given by gavage in the

Xiaofeng

Powder

group， while 3.72 g/（kg·d） solution of

Xiaofeng

Powder

with elimination of dryness-moistening medicinals and exterior-releasing medicinals respectively was given by gavage in the corresponding groups. Loratadine solution at dose of 0.80 mg/（kg·d） was given by gavage in the loratadine group， and purified water at dose of 5 ml/（kg·d） was given by gavage in the normal group and model group. The administration was once a day for seven consecutive days. The water content of stratum corneum was measured by a multifunctional skin tester before and after modeling， and after administration. The morphology of the skin tissue and the number of hair follicles were observed by conventional HE staining. The serum immunoglobulin E （IgE）， interleukin 4 （IL-4）， interleukin 17 （IL-17）， and helper CD4

+

T cells were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）.

Results

2

Compared to the normal group， the model group showed decreased stratum corneum hydration after modeling and intervention， decreased serum IL-4 level after intervention， decreased number of hair follicles on skin pathology， increased skin lesion score， and increased levels of serum IgE， IL-17 and CD4

+

（

P

＜0.05）. HE staining showed hypertrophy of the epidermal spine layer with spongiform oedema， massive eosinophilic infiltration and fibrous connective tissue hyperplasia in the dermis. Compared to the model group， all drug treatment groups were able to increase the stratum corneum hydration （

P

＜0.05）， increase serum IL-4 level and the number of hair follicles on skin pathology， and decrease serum IgE， IL-17 and CD4

+

concentrations （

P

＜0.05）； the loratadine group and

Xiaofeng

Powder

group was able to reduce skin lesion scores （

P

＜0.05）； and all drug treatment groups could alleviate the skin pathological damage. Compared to the

Xiaofeng

Powder

group， the elimination of dryness-moistening medicinal group showed decrease in the stratum corneum hydration， increase in serum IgE and CD4

+

， and decrease in IL-4 （

P

＜0.05）； the elimination of exterior-releasing medicinal group showed decrease in the number of total hair follicles， increase in serum IgE， IL-17 CD4

+

levels， and decrease in the IL-4 level （

P

＜0.05）； the loratadine group showed decreased serum IgE and CD4

+

concentrations and increased serum IL-4 concentrations （

P

＜0.05）.

Conclusion

2

Xiaofeng Powder

can repair epidermal permeability barrier dysfunction in guinea pigs with acute eczema and further restore the “free flow of

qi

” and “moist” of the fur. There is a synergistic effect when acrid exterior-releasing medicinals with a dispersing effect are combined with blood-nourishing and dryness-moistening medicinals. The mechanism may be related to inflammation suppression and immune modulation.