Title:Pathophysiological Effects of Sulfur Mustard on Skin and its Current Treatments: Possible Application of Phytochemicals
VOLUME: 24 ISSUE: 1
Author(s):Mehdi Hassanpour, Fateme Hajihassani, Mina Abdollahpourasl, Omid Cheraghi, Nasser Aghamohamadzade, Reza Rahbargazi, Mohammad Nouri, Younes Pilehvar-Soltanahmadi, Nosratollah Zarghami, Abolfazl Akbarzadeh, Yunes Panahi* and Amirhossein Sahebkar*
Affiliation:Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Department of Health Management, School of Management and Medical informatics, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Urmia University, Urmia, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Science, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Endocrine and Metabolism Section, Department of Internal Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Department of Applied Cell Sciences, Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Department of Applied Cell Sciences, Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Department of Applied Cell Sciences, Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Department of Applied Cell Sciences, Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Pharmacotherapy Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Halal Research Center of IRI, FDA, Tehran
Keywords:Sulfur mustard, skin injury, wound healing, phytochemical therapy, SM-induced injuries, herbal medicines.
Abstract:
Background: Sulfur-(SM) and nitrogen (NM)-based mustards are the mutagenic
incapacitating compounds which are widely used in vesicating the chemical warfare and cause
toxicity in many organs, especially skin. SM, as a potent vesicating agent, contributes to the
destruction of skin in dermis and epidermis layers. The progression of the lesion depends on the
concentration of SM and the duration of exposure. Body responses start with pruritus, erythema,
edema and xerosis, which lead to the accumulation of immune cells in the target sites and
recruitment of mast cells and paracrine-mediated activity. Pro-inflammatory effectors are
accumulated in the epidermis, hair follicles, and sebaceous glands resulting in the destruction of
the basement membrane beneath the epidermis. There is still no satisfactory countermeasure
against SM-induced lesions in clinical therapy, and the symptomatic or supportive treatments are
routine management approaches.
Objective: The current review highlights the recent progression of herbal medicines application in
SM-induced injuries through the illustrative examples and also demonstrates their efficacies,
properties and mechanism of actions as therapeutic agents.
Conclusion: Phytochemicals and herbal extracts with anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant
properties have been recently shown to hold therapeutic promise against the SM-induced
cutaneous complications. The present review discusses the possible application of herbal medicines
in the healing of SM-induced injuries.
