Antipsoriatic activity of Cassia auriculata L. flowers in Freund’s adjuvantformaldehyde induced animal model

Abstract

The plant Cassia auriculata L. belonging to the family Caesalpiniaceae (Leguminosae) used in the Ayurvedic system of medicine for the treatment of diabetes, ulcers, leprosy, conjunctivitis, liver and skin diseases. The present study aimed to evaluate the antipsoriatic effect of the ointments 0.5 and 1.0% (w/w) containing ethanol extract of the flowers of C. auriculata using complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) and induced animal model and also evaluated for its physical parameters. Antipsoriatic effect of 0.5 and 1.0% (w/w) ointments was evaluated by the phenotypic features (redness, erythema, and scales) in terms of psoriasis severity index (PSI) and histological features (epidermal thickness and degree of orthokeratosis). Evaluation of physical parameters for the prepared ointments showed satisfactory results with an acceptable condition of consistency for application. 0.5 and 1.0% (w/w) ointments treated animals showed a significant (*P <0.05) increase in the orthokeratinocyte layer and a significant (**P <0.01) reduction in the epidermal layer of skin treated with 1.0% (w/w) ointment with a progressive reduction (**P <0.01) in the severity of psoriatic lesions (erythema, redness, and scales) from day 7 to 21st day. The present investigations revealed that the flowers of Cassia auriculata possess antipsoriatic activity, confirming their traditional use in skin disorders.