Inflammatory dermatitis is characterized by epidermal barrier disruption, cutaneous inflammation, and dysregulated cytokine responses. Aster yomena (AY), an edible medicinal plant traditionally used in Korea, has been reported to possess anti-inflammatory properties. This study evaluated the effects of orally administered AY extract in a 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB)-induced dermatitis model using SKH-1 hairless mice. Mice were assigned to six groups (n = 5 per group) and treated during a 5-week experimental period. Mice were assigned to normal control, DNCB-treated control, dexamethasone-treated positive control, and AY extract-treated groups. Gross skin lesions, relative spleen weight, serum interleukin-4 (IL-4) levels, and histopathological changes were assessed. DNCB-treated mice developed marked crusting, dryness, swelling, increased relative spleen weight, elevated serum IL-4 levels, and epidermal hyperplasia with dermal inflammation. Oral administration of AY extract improved gross lesions, reduced relative spleen weight and serum IL-4 levels, and attenuated epidermal thickening, edema, and inflammatory cell infiltration. These findings indicate that AY extract showed preliminary anti-inflammatory and antidermatitic effects in a DNCB-induced SKH-1 hairless mouse model and warrant further mechanistic and translational studies.

Abstract
INTRODUCTION
MATERIALS AND METHODS
    Preparation of AY extract
    Animals and experimental design
    Evaluation of inflammatory indices and histopathology
    Statistical analysis
RESULTS
    AY extract improved gross skin lesions in DNCBtreatedmice
    AY extract reduced relative spleen weight and serumIL-4 levels
    AY extract attenuated histopathological skin lesions
DISCUSSION
REFERENCES

• Hyeon Jeong Moon(Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Korea)
• Yeong-Bin Baek(Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Korea)
• Jaewoo Choi(Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Korea)
• Seon-Jin Lee(Department of Integrative Food, Bioscience and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Korea)
• Gun Lee(Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and BK21 FOUR Program, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Korea)
• Chung-Do Lee(Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and BK21 FOUR Program, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Korea)
• Sang-Ik Park(Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and BK21 FOUR Program, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Korea) Corresponding author
• Geon Woo Kim(Twell Co., Ltd., Yeongcheon, Gyeongsangbuk-do 38882, Korea)
• Jun-Gyu Park(Department of Veterinary Zoonotic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Korea)