Antipsoriatic activity of ayurvedic ointment containing aqueous extract of the bark of Pongamia pinnata using the rat ultraviolet ray photodermatitis model

Abstract

Many herbal remedies individually or in combination have been recommended in various medical expositions for the cure of different diseases. Chronic plaque psoriasis is an immune-mediated, inflammatory skin disease. Current treatments are unable to counter the inflammatory conditions of psoriasis. The present study was carried out to evaluate whether the presence of aqueous extract of bark of Pongamia pinnata in a commercial preparation SUEX GEL that is used in the treatment of psoriasis, has any additional benefits over a similar preparation supplied by the manufacturer that does not have the extract using the rat ultraviolet ray photo dermatitis model. The irradiated rat skin treated with SUEX GEL containing aqueous extract of the bark of P. pinnata showed a significant reduction in the total epidermal thickness, retention of the stratum granulosum and the absence of movement of neutrophils, and further substantiated that the SUEX GEL having aqueous extract of the bark of P. pinnata has been very useful in the changes that occur in the skin due to irradiation. The presence of the aqueous extract of the bark of P. pinnata produces an improvement in the efficacy of the ayurvedic ointment (SUEX GEL) used in the treatment of psoriasis.

Keywords: Pongamia pinnata, psoriasis, ultra-violet ray photo dermatitis.