Inhibition of imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like dermatitis in mice by herbal extracts from some Indian medicinal plants

Abstract

Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune human skin disorder that is characterized by excessive proliferation of keratinocytes, scaly plaques, severe inflammation and erythema. The pathophysiology of psoriasis involves interplay between epidermal keratinocytes, T lymphocytes, leukocytes and vascular endothelium. Increased leukocyte recruitment and elevated levels of cytokines, growth factors and genetic factors like interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-17, IL-22, IL-23, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interferon (IFN)-γ, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, toll-like receptor (TLR)-2, signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT-3), 15-lipoxygenase (LOX)-2, coiled-coil alpha-helical rod protein 1 (CCHCR1), steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) and vitamin D receptor (VDR) are the most critical factors governing the exacerbation of psoriasis. In the present study, an attempt was made to elucidate the preventive role of herbal extracts of four dermo-protective Ayurvedic plants, Tinospora cordifolia (TC), Curcuma longa (CL), Celastrus paniculatus (CP) and Aloe vera (AV), against psoriasis-like dermatitis. Parkes (P) strain mice were initially induced with psoriasis-like dermatitis using topical application of imiquimod (IMQ, 5 %), followed by subsequent treatment with the herbal extracts to examine their curative effect on the psoriasis-like dermatitis-induced mice. The extracts were orally/topically administered to mice according to their ED/LD50 doses. Phenotypical observations, histological examinations, and semi-quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) analyses of the skin and blood samples of the control, IMQ-treated and herbal extract-treated psoriasis-like dermatitis-induced mice lead to the conclusion that the combination extract from all the plants was instrumental in downregulating the overexpressed cytokines, which was followed by the CL extract. Moreover, lesser yet positive response was evident from CP and TC extracts. The results suggest that these plants can prove to have tremendous preventive potential against the disease and can open the way to new therapeutic strategies for psoriasis treatment.

Douchi (fermented Glycine max Merr.) alleviates atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice by regulation of PKC and IL-4

“…These finding suggests that isoflavones in raw soybean are increased through the process of fermentation, this is considered to affect alleviation of inflammation. Recently, it was reported that artemisia have an anti-inflammatory effect in psoriasis animal model [67]. Therefore, in our result of change through fermentation, anti-inflammatory effect of Douchi may be associated with artemisia extract.…”

Antipsoriatic Effects of Wannachawee Recipe on Imiquimod‐Induced Psoriasis‐Like Dermatitis in BALB/c Mice

“…They were then sacrificed on day 17 at the laboratory. Central dorsal skin tissue (approximately 1 cm 2 ) and right ear pinna from all the groups were excised for histological studies [ 23 ] and cytokine production analysis [ 20 ]. Blood samples from all the groups were collected in clean dry vials for cytokine production analysis [ 23 ].…”

Topically Used Herbal Products for the Treatment of Psoriasis – Mechanism of Action, Drug Delivery, Clinical Studies

“…Moreover, IFN-γ and IL-15 seem to increase the apoptotic resistance of the keratinocytes [15,16]. Also growth factors and genetic factors like transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, toll-like receptor (TLR)-2, signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT-3), coiled-coil alpha-helical rod protein 1 (CCHCR1), steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), and vitamin D receptor (VDR) are suggested to be the most critical factors governing the exacerbation of psoriasis [17,18]. The essential transcription factor in psoriasis, nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), has been shown to be a key regulatory element occurring in a variety of immune and inflammatory pathways, in cellular proliferation and differentiation, and in apoptosis [19].…”

“…Herbal products treatment of psoriasis through inhibition of cytokines was also confirmed in animal-based studies. The topical application of a mixture of herbal extracts (Tinospora cordifolia, Curcuma longa, Celastrus paniculatus, Aloe vera) lead to the downregulation of overexpressed cytokines in mice, initially induced with psoriasis-like dermatitis through topical application of imiquimod [17]. Some research found that phosphorylase kinase (PhK) enzyme is expressed on a significantly higher level in psoriatic epidermis as in normal epidermis [76].…”