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Effects of metronidazole and tinidazole ointments on models for inflammatory dermatitis in mice

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Abstract

We investigated the effects of 1–4% ointments of metronidazole and tinidazole (derivatives of nitroimidazole) on models of inflammatory dermatitis evoked by antigen, hapten and monoclonal anti-dinitrophenol (DNP) IgE antibody in mice. Metronidazole and tinidazole ointments (1) suppressed the late-phase reaction (LPR) of biphasic ear edema in mice sensitized with ovalbumin (OA), (2) suppressed trinitrochlorobenzene-induced inflammatory dermatitis, (3) suppressed the immediate phase reactions and LPR in mice passively sensitized with anti-DNP IgE mAb, and (4) enhanced vascular permeability and the number of scratching reactions, presumably due to itching, in passively sensitized mice. These results strongly indicate that metronidazole and tinidazole 1–4% ointments possess antiinflammatory, immunosuppressive and anti-itching effects, and have the potential for clinical use in the treatment of human inflammatory skin diseases including atopic dermatitis in addition to rosacea and acne vulgaris.

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  1. Department of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 812-8582, Fukuoka, Japan

    K. Nishimuta & Y. Ito

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  1. K. Nishimuta
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  2. Y. Ito
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Correspondence to Y. Ito.

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Nishimuta, K., Ito, Y. Effects of metronidazole and tinidazole ointments on models for inflammatory dermatitis in mice. Arch Dermatol Res 294, 544–551 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00403-002-0381-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00403-002-0381-4

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