評估植化素和飲食對於痤瘡的影響

Abstract

痤瘡(acne)俗稱青春痘，其致病因子複雜。過度皮脂生成(sebaceous hyperproduction)、毛囊過度角質化(follicular hyperkeratinization)、痤瘡桿菌增生(Propionibacterium acnes colonization)和發炎反應(periglandular dermal inflammation)是重要的致病因子。其中痤瘡桿菌(P. acnes)被認為在痤瘡發展過程中扮演重要的角色，P. acnes藉由活化單核球細胞(monocytes)與角質細胞(keratinocytes)的toll-like receptor，啟動下游的訊息傳遞路徑產生發炎介質誘導痤瘡發炎情形；另外P. acnes誘發產生活性氧分子(reactive oxygen species, ROS) 與基質金屬蛋白?(matrix metalloproteinases, MMP)亦參與發炎反應。山苦瓜 (Momordica charantia Linn. var. abbreviata Ser.； wild bitter melon)果實萃取物具有抗發炎、抗氧化能力，但少有山苦瓜葉子之生理功效的研究報告，因此本研究欲探討山苦瓜葉子萃取物是否具有抑制P. acnes生長與其誘發之發炎反應的效用。 製備數種山苦瓜萃取物，收集山苦瓜葉以甲醇進行萃取。以P. acnes刺激THP-1 monocytes的模式發現山苦瓜甲醇萃物具in vitro抗發炎作用，能抑制cytokine分泌和MMP-9表現量。在in vivo抗發炎實驗，將P. acnes注射至ICR小鼠耳朵測試樣品的抗發炎能力，結果顯示山苦瓜葉子甲醇萃物與總多酚萃取物能夠抑制P. acnes誘發的發炎反應與耳朵腫脹情形。 綜合論述，山苦瓜果葉子甲醇萃物具有抑制P. acnes誘發的促發炎介質與小鼠耳朵腫脹情形，具減緩P. acnes誘導發炎的功效。

Acne vulgaris is a common skin disease involving pilosebaceous follicle. The pathogenesis of acne vulgaris is multifactorial, including increased sebum production, comedogenesis and Propionibacterium acnes proliferation. P. acnes plays an important role not only in the process of inflammation but in the formation of comedones. Previous studies have shown P. acnes would activate monocytes to secrete pro-inflammatory cytokines, some studies have found that matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) will participate in the progression of acne. Wild bitter melon (WBM； Momordica charantia Linn. var. abbreviata Ser.) possesses numerous pharmacological actions such as antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-diabetic, and anti-inflammatory activities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo inhibitory effect of wild bitter melons leaves extract on P. acnes-induced inflammation.Our results showed that methanolic extract of WBM leaves significantly reduced IL-8, TNF-α, IL-1β and MMP-9 levels by P. acnes-stimulated THP-1 cells in vitro. We further evaluated in vivo anti-inflammatory activity of WBM leaf extract. Our data indicated that methanolic extract and total phenol extract of WBM leaves reduced P. acnes-induced inflammation of mice ear and then showed in vivo anti-inflammatory activity.Our results suggested that wild bitter melon leaf extract have anti-inflammatory effect against P. acnes and may be useful in the adjuvant treatment of inflammatory acne.