Evaluation of herbal ointment containing ethanol extract of Plecranthus amboinicus root for the management of psoriasis

Abstract

Plant, Plecranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Spreng, belonging to the family Lamiaceae, commonly known as ‘Karpuravalli’ in Tamil language is widely used in folk medicine to treat conditions like cold, asthma, constipation, headache, cough, fever and skin diseases. The present study aimed to evaluate antipsoriatic effect of the ethanol extract of Plecranthus amboinicus root. Ointment containing ethanolic extract of Plecranthus amboinicus root was prepared and evaluated for antipsoriatic activity using complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) and formaldehyde induced animal model. Psoriasis is induced by applying mixture of 0.1 mL of prepared CFA and formaldehyde mixture (1:10 ratio) topically for 7 days on the dorsum surface of the skin of Swiss albino mice. Antipsoriatic effect of 0.5% and 1.0% (w/w) ointments containing ethanolic extract of Plecranthus amboinicus root was evaluated in terms of Psoriasis severity index (PSI) by the phenotypic features (redness, scales and erythema) and histological features (epidermal thickness). The result showed that there was a significant increase in the orthokeratinocyte layer and a significant reduction in the epidermal layer of skin in the in vivo mice model with a progressive reduction (p**<0.01) in the severity of psoriatic lesions (redness, erythema, and scales) from day 7 to 21^st day and significant (p*<0.05) decreased epidermal thickness and increased orthokeratotic regions in animals treated with 0.5% and 1.0% (w/w) ointments of Plecranthus amboinicus root. The present investigations revealed that Plecranthus amboinicus root possess potent antipsoriatic activity, confirming their traditional use in skin disorders.