Psoriasis is a long-term inflammatory skin condition caused by hyperproliferation of keratinocytes, immune cell infiltration, and underlying vascular abnormalities. The global prevalence of psoriasis ranges from 0.09% to 11.4%, with genetic predisposition historically considered the most significant risk factor.
Recent research has found that intercellular signaling pathways like interleukin IL-23/IL-17 axis, Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) kinase, Nuclear Factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), and Interleukin-6/Janus Kinase/Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (IL-6/JAK/STAT3) axis play an important role in disease pathogenesis. Psoriasis is a risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease, psoriatic arthritis, uveitis, and Crohn’s disease. Traditional medicines face several challenges, such as high cost and primary or secondary treatment failure. Medical research has recently switched to the development of herbal formulations for the treatment of psoriasis because of their safety, cost-effectiveness, and anti-inflammatory properties.
A recent study published in the Journal of Inflammation Research evaluated the efficacy of a plant-based formulation of Psorogrit (PSO) in an in-vitro inflammation model and in combination with Divya-Taila (DT), a topical formulation, in two in vivo mouse models of psoriasis.
Human keratinocyte (HaCaT) cells were stimulated with imiquimod (IMQ) or Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α) to create an in-vitro model of psoriasis. PSO was evaluated for the modulation of cytokine level, messenger Ribonucleic Acid (mRNA) expression, and NF-κB reporter activity. The anti-psoriatic efficiency of orally administered PSO and topically applied DT has been assessed in in vivo mice models of IMQ-induced psoriasis-like lesions of skin and 12-O- tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced ear edema. The animals were randomly assigned to five groups: PSO, DT, normal control, clobetasol, and disease control. Ear punch weight, analysis of ear thickness, spleen weight, Keratin 17 (KRT 17), and histopathology by eosin (H&E) and hematoxylin mRNA expression have been evaluated for herbal formulations. The phytochemical composition of DT and PSO was assessed using gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (GC/MS/MS) and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC).
Data are presented as mean ± standard error of mean (SEM) for every group. The statistical evaluation was performed by GraphPad Prism 7.4 using the one-way ANOVA and Dunnett’s multiple comparison post-hoc tests.
Non-toxic (Cytosafe) concentrations of PSO dosages significantly decreased IL-8 release and mRNA expression of TNF-α, IL-8, and IL-1β in TNF-α-induced human skin keratinocytes. PSO has been found to decrease TNF-α-induced NF-κB reporter activity. In IMQ-induced HaCaT cells, PSO decreased Interleukin-17 Receptor A (IL-17RA) release and IL-17RA and IL-23 mRNA expression. DT and PSO have the potential to decrease the IMQ-induced elevation in relative spleen weight, ear punch weight, and histological alteration in dorsal back skin and ear in the in vivo model. DT and PSO also decrease the elevation in the pear punch weight, histological damage, and ear thickness in the TPA-induced ear edema model. Phytochemical analyses of DT and PSO indicated the presence of phytometabolites, which are known for anti-inflammatory effects.
The combination of the polyherbal formulation of Divya-Taila and Psorogrit demonstrated anti-psoriatic effects in both in-vivo and in-vitro models of psoriatic inflammation. This research indicates that DT and PSO can be used as therapeutic agents for skin diseases like psoriasis.
Reference: Balkrishna A, Sharma S, Dey T, et al. Anti-psoriatic efficacies of Psorogrit and Divya-Taila in murine models of imiquimod- and TPA-induced psoriasis-like inflammation are driven by modulation in IL-17RA/IL-23 and IL-8/TNF-α signaling axes. J Inflamm Res. 2025;18:5235-5259. doi:10.2147/JIR.S505245
