Current Knowledge on Interactions of Plant Materials Traditionally Used in Skin Diseases in Poland and Ukraine with Human Skin Microbiota

Abstract

Skin disorders of different etiology, such as dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, wounds, burns, and others, are widely spread in the population. In severe cases, they require the topical application of drugs, such as antibiotics, steroids, and calcineurin inhibitors. With milder symptoms, which do not require acute pharmacological interventions, medications, dietary supplements, and cosmetic products of plant material origin are gaining greater popularity among professionals and patients. They are applied in various pharmaceutical forms, such as raw infusions, tinctures, creams, and ointments. Although plant-based formulations have been used by humankind since ancient times, it is often unclear what the mechanisms of the observed beneficial effects are. Recent advances in the contribution of the skin microbiota in maintaining skin homeostasis can shed new light on understanding the activity of topically applied plant-based products. Although the influence of various plants on skin-related ailments are well documented in vivo and in vitro, little is known about the interaction with the network of the skin microbial ecosystem. The review aims to summarize the hitherto scientific data on plant-based topical preparations used in Poland and Ukraine and indicate future directions of the studies respecting recent developments in understanding the etiology of skin diseases. The current knowledge on investigations of interactions of plant materials/extracts with skin microbiome was reviewed for the first time.

Keywords: dermatology; fibroblasts; interaction; keratinocytes; microbiota; phytotherapy; plant materials; skin; skin diseases; topical.

Figure 1

Graphical representation of the publication trend in the field of using plants related to their influence on the skin and microbiota. A graph was created based on the Scopus database, keywords 1 (plant material or plant extract and skin) and keywords 2 (plant material or plant extract and microbiota) were used.