The palliative effect of topical Artemisia dracunculus administration in imiquimod-induced psoriasis in mice

Psoriasis is a serious inflammatory skin disease with an etiology which is not fully understood. The disease is characterized by dark, scaly, and well-demarcated skin lesions formed by epidermal keratinocyte hyper proliferation. Inflammation of the skin caused by Imiquimod (IMQ) is the most widely accepted animal model of psoriasis. The objective of the study is to test Artemisia dracunculus (steroidal fraction of it in a concentration of 5%) possible protective effects on imiquimod-induced psoriasis in mice in its topical dosage form and to compare this effect with Clobetasol Propionate (Dermovate ^(R)) ointment. An ointment was prepared from the aerial parts of A. dracunculus and was applied topically to mice skin before imiquimod application. The results of the current study showed that A. dracunculus ointment could significantly reduce skin cytokines and psoriasis area and severity index in (A. dracunculus ointment + imiquimod) (Group IV) treatments compared with both control group (Group I) and (vehicle ointment + imiquimod) (Group III).