Asian Journal
Of Traditional Medicines

Abstract: This article was aimed to study the antiinflammatory and antipruritic effects of essential oil of camphor leaves and its possible mechanism. The chemical constituents of essential oil of camphor leaves were analyzed by GC-MS. Mice allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) models were induced 0.5% 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) solution. The contents of IL-4, 5-LOX, LTB4 and LTR1 in serum and the histomorphology of mice ear cutaneous tissue were measured after induction. Pathological examination showed a large number of inflammatory cells in the model group. Inflammatory cells were not seen in essential oil high dose group. The dermis slightly thickened in the low doses of essential oil group. The contents of 5-LOX, LTB4 and LTR1 of the drug groups were significantly decreased (P < 0.05) compared with that of the model group. However, the essential oil of camphor leaf had no significant effect on IL-4 (P > 0.05). Essential oil of camphor leaves has significant antiinflammatory and antipruritic effects on ACD by inhibiting the 5-LOX-LTB4-LTR1 pathway.

Key words: Cinnamomum camphora, essential oil, antipruritic effect