Abstract: Objective To study the relationship between the therapeutic principle and prescription of traditional Chinese medicine and the experimental pharmacologic effects in relation to the treatment of eczema. Methods Murine DNFB allergic contact dermatitis was used as an animal model, and was treated with 4 traditional Chinese medicinal compounds which were composed of Chinese materia medica with activities to suppress type Ⅳ allergic reaction. Results The results showed that the effect of compound Ⅲ composed of Paeoniae obovata Maxim(赤芍), Fructus Gardeniae(栀子), Herba Schizonepetae(荆芥), Herba Spirodelae(浮萍) and Poria(茯苓), possessing multiple potencies of cooling and promoting blood, clearing heat, expelling wind and eliminating dampness, was strongest among the compounds tested, and the compound up regulated the serum level of calcitonin gene related peptide which was lowered in the mice with DNFB induced dermatitis. Conclusion It is suggested that the compounds with suppressive effect on type Ⅳ allergic reaction might improve the therapeutic effect in clinical practice.

Key words: Dermatitis,allergic contact, Medicine,traditional Chinese