hypericum and Psoriasis

In this case series, ten patients with plaque-type psoriasis were treated with Hypericum perforatum ointment. The hypericum ointment was applied to one side of each patient's body and the vehicle to the opposite side twice daily for 4 weeks in a single blinded manner. Modified psoriasis area severity index (PASI) scores were significantly lowered where the formulated ointment had been applied. In determining PASI scores, three factors, erythema, scaling and thickness, were evaluated; all were significantly lower where the formulated ointment had been applied (P = 0.01, P = 0.004, P = 0.04). Hypericum perforatum ointment applied twice daily may be effective in reducing PASI scores in mild plaque-type psoriasis, however, further larger studies need be conducted to achieve a more conclusive result.

Topics: Adult; Female; Humans; Hypericum; Male; Middle Aged; Ointments; Phytotherapy; Pilot Projects; Plant Extracts; Psoriasis; Severity of Illness Index; Single-Blind Method; Young Adult

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by hyperproliferation of keratinocytes and expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the epidermis. New biological drugs were developed for the systemic treatment of moderate to severe psoriasis. However, products for the topical treatment of mild psoriasis are still required. Here, we examined the effect of natural compounds on psoriasis-like keratinocytes in vitro and ex vivo. Psoriasis-like keratinocytes were generated by treating human primary keratinocytes with the psoriasis-associated cytokines IL-17A, TNF-α and IL-22. Initially, 10 botanical extracts from Ayurvedic Medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Northern American traditional medicine and Occidental Monastic Medicine were investigated using BrdU assays and IL-6 and IL-8 ELISAs.

Topics: Cell Line; Cell Proliferation; Curcuma; Cytokines; Gene Expression Regulation; Humans; Humulus; Hypericum; Keratinocytes; Models, Biological; Plant Extracts; Plants, Medicinal; Psoriasis