Therapeutic Efficacies of Artemisia capillaris Extract Cream Formulation in Imiquimod-Induced Psoriasis Models

• Main Authors: Song Yi Lee, Suyeong Nam, Sungyun Kim, Ja Seong Koo, In Kee Hong, Hill Kim, Sangin Han, Minji Kang, Heejung Yang, Hyun-Jong Cho
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hindawi Limited 2018-01-01
• Series: Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/3610494

A cream formulation containing Artemisia capillaris (AC) extract (ACE) was developed for psoriasis therapy. Although ACE can be dissolved in organic solvents, its topical application is restricted because of toxicities. Therefore, a cream formulation was developed for the convenient and safe local application of ACE on skin lesions. The antipsoriatic properties of the ACE cream were evaluated using an imiquimod- (IMQ-) induced psoriasis-like mouse model. In psoriasis-like mouse models, the cumulative score (redness, thickness, and scaling) of the IMQ + ACE cream group was significantly lower than those of the other groups on day 4 (p < 0.05). The results of the hematoxylin and eosin staining of skin tissues revealed that the epidermal thickness value of the IMQ + ACE cream group was significantly lower than those of the other experimental groups (p < 0.05). The expression level of intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), which indicates the leukocyte infiltration into the skin and subsequent interactions with keratinocytes, was also lower in the IMQ + ACE cream group than in the IMQ group. These results indicate that ACE cream formulation could be used safely and conveniently for psoriasis treatment.