Comprehensive Phytochemical Profiling of Polyherbal Divya-Kayakalp-Vati and Divya-Kayakalp-Oil and Their Combined Efficacy in Mouse Model of Atopic Dermatitis-Like Inflammation Through Regulation of Cytokines

Acharya Balkrishna,1,2 Sudeep Verma,1 Sachin Sakat,1 Kheemraj Joshi,1 Siva K Solleti,1 Kunal Bhattacharya,1 Anurag Varshney1,2 1Drug Discovery and Development Division, Patanjali Research Institute, Haridwar, 249 405, Uttarakhand, India; 2Department of Allied and Applied Sciences, University of Patanjali, Patanjali YogPeeth, Haridwar, 249 405, Uttarakhand, IndiaCorrespondence: Anurag Varshney, Drug Discovery and Development Division, Patanjali Research Institute, NH-58, Haridwar, 249405, Uttarakhand, India, Tel +91 1334-244107 x7458, Fax +91 1334 244805, Email anurag@prft.co.inPurpose: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory disease that varies in signs and symptoms in different individuals. General symptoms include dryness of the skin, itching, and development of red to brownish-gray patches. Divya-Kayakalp-Vati (DKV) and -Oil (DKO) are Indian polyherbal compositions prescribed for treating inflammatory skin diseases. In the present study, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory efficacy of DKV and DKO co-treatment (DKV-O) in ameliorating Oxazolone (OXA)-stimulated AD-like inflammation and pro-inflammatory cytokine release in a Swiss albino mouse model.Methods: Phytochemical profiling of the DKV and DKO were done using Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (LC-MS) QToF. Swiss albino mice were sensitized for 7 days and treated with OXA in their ear region. Stimulated and control animals were orally treated with DKV and topically with DKO. Anti-inflammatory efficacy of DKV-O was determined in OXA-treated animals through physiological, histopathological, and biochemical parameter analysis.Results: DKV and DKO formulations individually contained 39 and 59 phytochemicals, respectively. Many of the phytochemicals have been reported to have anti-inflammatory activities. In the OXA-sensitized Swiss albino mice, combined treatment with DKV-O, and separately with Dexamethasone (positive control) significantly reduced the OXA-stimulated ear edema, biopsy weight, and epidermal thickness. DKV-O further reduced OXA-stimulated induction of inflammatory lesions, neutrophil influx, and release of Interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and myeloperoxidase.Conclusion: Finally, DKV-O co-treatment showed good pharmacological effects in ameliorating AD-like inflammation through the modulation of inflammatory cell influx and release of soluble mediators. Therefore, DKV-O treatment can be used as a suitable polyherbal therapeutic against AD-like inflammatory diseases.Keywords: inflammation, oxazolone, phytochemical profile, pro-inflammatory cytokines, histopathological analysis, biochemical analysis