Angelicae tenussimae root is used as a traditional medicine in Asia. Recently, researchers have identified the antimelanogenic and antiphotogenic effects of fermented A. tenuissima root (FAT). However, there is limited information about the anti-atopic dermatitis (AD) action of FAT. Thus, the present study determined the applicability of FAT to AD by identifying the efficacy of FAT on the skin barrier and inflammatory response, which are the primary pathogenesis of AD. 

It measured expression levels of skin barrier components and the production of inflammatory mediators in human keratinocyte and mouse macrophage cells by quantitative RT-PCR or ELISA.

The study observed:

• Upregulation of the expression of skin barrier components (filaggrin, involucrin, loricurin, SPTLC1) and inhibition of the secretion of an inflammatory chemokine TARC in HaCaT cells by FAT.
• Suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α) and nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW264.7 cells by FAT.
• An increase in filaggrin and SPTLC1 and a lowering of pro-inflammatory mediators that increased in atopic environments by ligustilide, comparable to FAT results. 

This indicates that ligustilide, one of the active ingredients derived from FAT, can ameliorate AD, at least partly, by promoting skin barrier formation and downregulating inflammatory mediators. 

These results indicate FAT as a potential functional cosmetic material for the care and management of AD.

Source: Ha CW, Sohn EH, Kim SH, et al. Fermented Angelicae tenussimae with Aspergillus oryzae improves skin barrier properties, moisturizing, and anti-inflammatory responses. Int J Mol Sci. 2022;23(20):12072.