The Effects of Heat-Treated Liriope platyphylla Root Ethanol Extracts on Atopic Dermatitis Chemokine Expression in Human Keratinocytes

This study investigated the effects of heat-treated Liriope platyphylla ethanol extract (LP) on the expression of chemokines and skin barrier-related genes in HaCaT cells stimulated with TNF-α/IFN-γ to induce atopic dermatitis (AD). The impact of LP on cell viability was assessed using the WST assay, leading to the selection of a non-cytotoxic concentration of ≤100 μg/mL for further experiments. LP’s efficacy was evaluated by measuring the mRNA expression of inflammatory chemokines (CCL17, CCL22, CCL5), cytokine levels (IL-6, IL-1β), and skin barrier-related factors (FLG, LOR). The phosphorylation of NF-κB p65 was also analyzed via Western blot. LP treatment significantly reduced the mRNA expression of inflammatory chemokines (CCL17, CCL22, CCL5) and cytokines (IL-6, IL-1β), which were notably upregulated by TNF-α/IFN-γ stimulation. Additionally, the expression of skin barrier-related genes, such as FLG and LOR, which had decreased due to inflammatory stimulation, was significantly and dose-dependently restored following LP treatment. Furthermore, LP treatment inhibited the activation of TNF-α/IFN-γ-induced NF-κB signaling pathways. These findings suggest that LP has potential as a functional material for preventing and managing atopic dermatitis by reducing inflammation and restoring the skin barrier.