Rosmarinic acid attenuates 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene-induced atopic dermatitis in NC/Nga mice

► RA at 1 or 5 µM was found to suppress the productions of interferon (IFN)-γ and interleukin (IL)-4 significantly by activated CD4+ T cells. ► Intraperitoneal injection of RA at 10 mg/kg or 50 mg/kg significantly inhibited skin lesion development and ear thickness and total serum IgE level increases in DNFB-treated NC/Nga mice. ► Intraperitoneal administered RA at 10 mg/kg or 50 mg/kg significantly inhibited the infiltrations of CD4+T, CD8+T, and mast cells into DNFB-induced skin lesions in NC/Nga mice. ► This study suggests that RA suppresses the development of AD-like dermatitis in DNFB-treated NC/Nga mice by reducing IFN-g and IL-4 production by activated T cells and total serum IgE levels.