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Avenanthramides, polyphenols from oats, exhibit anti-inflammatory and anti-itch activity

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Abstract

Oatmeal has been used for centuries as a soothing agent to relieve itch and irritation associated with various xerotic dermatoses; however few studies have sought to identify the active phytochemical(s) in oat that mediate this anti-inflammatory activity. Avenanthramides are phenolic compounds present in oats at approximately 300 parts per million (ppm) and have been reported to exhibit anti-oxidant activity in various cell-types. In the current study we investigated whether these compounds exert anti-inflammatory activity in the skin. We found that avenanthramides at concentrations as low as 1 parts per billion inhibited the degradation of inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa B-α (IκB-α) in keratinocytes which correlated with decreased phosphorylation of p65 subunit of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB). Furthermore, cells treated with avenanthramides showed a significant inhibition of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) induced NF-κB luciferase activity and subsequent reduction of interleukin-8 (IL-8) release. Additionally, topical application of 1–3 ppm avenanthramides mitigated inflammation in murine models of contact hypersensitivity and neurogenic inflammation and reduced pruritogen-induced scratching in a murine itch model. Taken together these results demonstrate that avenanthramides are potent anti-inflammatory agents that appear to mediate the anti-irritant effects of oats.

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Abbreviations

RTX:

Resiniferatoxin

TNFα:

Tumor necrosis factor-α

IL-8:

Interleukin-8

NF-κB:

Nuclear factor kappa beta

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Preclinical Pharmacology, Skin Research Center, Johnson & Johnson Consumer Products, 199 Grandview Road, Skillman, NJ, 08558, USA

    Runa Sur, Anu Nigam, Devon Grote, Frank Liebel & Michael D. Southall

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  1. Runa Sur
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  2. Anu Nigam
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  3. Devon Grote
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  4. Frank Liebel
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  5. Michael D. Southall
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Correspondence to Michael D. Southall.

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Sur, R., Nigam, A., Grote, D. et al. Avenanthramides, polyphenols from oats, exhibit anti-inflammatory and anti-itch activity. Arch Dermatol Res 300, 569–574 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00403-008-0858-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00403-008-0858-x

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