ABSTRACT
This study aimed to examine the effects of vinpocetine on atopic dermatitis (AD) by administering it via oral, intraperitoneal, and topical routes to HR-1 hairless mice. AD was induced in the mice for five weeks with ovalbumin, and vinpocetine was administered twice daily through each route of administration for two weeks after the induction of AD. Vinpocetine (20, 10, and 2 mg/kg) was administered by oral, intraperitoneal, and topical routes, respectively. The administration of vinpocetine suppressed the increase in serum immunoglobulin (Ig) E and IgG1 levels and the production of interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13-cytokines linked to T helper 2 cells in skin tissue. In addition, the invasion of inflammatory cells, including eosinophils, into the skin tissue was reduced, and changes in skin structure were also suppressed. These results show the potential for the use of vinpocetine in patients with AD and even for targeted treatment against PDE. In most of the experiments, symptom relief in the groups receiving oral and topical vinpocetine was slightly superior to that in the group receiving vinpocetine intraperitoneally. In particular, topical application of vinpocetine was found to be the most effective route when considering the dose of vinpocetine used in each route.