Abstract: Objective: To investagate the intervention effect of artemisia naphta oil (AN) on mouse acne model and skin microecology induced by propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes). Methods: 48 mice were divided into normal group, model group, base group, at various concentrations of AN intervention groups (0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, 3.0% and 5.0% AN groups), 6 mice in each group. P. acnes was injected into the ear skin to establish acne models. After the right ear appeared redness and swelling, the Base group was treated with Base water, and the rest of the mice were treated with different concentrations of AN, 1 mL each time, once a day. After 17 days, the ear thickness of the mice was observed, the skin pathology was observed by HE staining, and the skin microecological changes were analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing. The levels of IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α and the protein expressions of TLR2, TLR4, P65 and p-P65 were detected by Western blot. Results: Compared to the mice in the normal group, the ears of the mice in the model group were red and swollen, the epidermis was thickened, and the abundance and diversity of microbiota were decreased, among which the abundance of Staphylococcus and Serratia was increased significantly, the abundance of Bifidobacteria, Corynebacterium and Atopostipes was reduced，and the contents of IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α,TLR2, TLR4 and p-P65/P65protein increased significantly. There was no significant change in the expression of TLR2, TLR4 and p-P65 protein in the Base group. Compared to the model group, after treated with various concentrations of AN, the ear redness and pathological damage of the mice in the model group were gradually reduced, the abundance and diversity of ear microbiota were improved, Staphylococcus and Serratia were significantly downregulated, Bifidobacteria, Corynebacterium and Atopostipes were significantly up-regulated, and IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, TLR2, TLR4, p-P65/P65 protein expression significantly increased. Conclusion: AN can reduce the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines, relieve the skin inflammation, restore the balance of skin microecology, and effectively improve the changes of acne inflammatory skin lesions.

Key words: artemisia naphta oil, acne, skin microbiome, inflammation