ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the therapeutic effect of mustard seed on allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) in mice and explore the mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighteen BALB/c mice were randomly divided into normal control group, model group and mustard seed group. The mice in the normal control group and model group were fed with normal chow, and those in mustard seed group were given 5% mustard seed mixed in the chow. Three weeks later, ACD was induced on the ear using 2, 4-dinitrofluorobenzene. After 24 h, the swelling of the ear was examined, and the rats were sacrificed to collect the ear tissue ears and blood for histopathological and immunohistochemical examinations, RT-PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In mice with ACD, feeding with mustard seeds significantly lessened the ear swelling, improved the tissue histopathology, lowered the number of infiltrating Langerhans cells, and reduced the expressions of IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-6 mRNA in the ear, but did not cause significant changes in serum levels of IL-4, IFN-γ and IL-17.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Mustard seed inhibits ACD in mice possibly by suppressing the expressions of IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-6 mRNA and inhibiting Langerhans cell migration in the epidermis.</p>