Psoriasis Research Studies: Abstracts
Set out below are psoriasis research abstracts into the use of Mahonia aquifolium in the treatment for psoriasis
* Mahonia aquifolium – A new type of topical treatment for psoriasis
* Mahonia aquifolium in patients with psoriasis vulgaris – an intraindividual study
* The antipsoriatic Mahonia aquifolium and its active constituents; II. Antiproliferative activity against cell growth of human keratinocytes
* Lipoxygenase inhibition and antioxidant properties of bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids isolated from Mahonia aquifolium
* Antifungal screening of medical plants of British Columbian native peoples
* The antipsoriatic Mahonia aquifolium and its active constituents; I. Pro- and antioxidant properties and inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase
* A report on three recent clinical trials using Mahonia aquifolium 10% topical cream and a review of the worldwide clinical experience with Mahonia aquifolium for the treatment of plaque psoriasis
Mahonia aquifolium – A new type of topical treatment for psoriasis
In an open, prospective multicentre trial in 89 dermatological practices in Germany, 443 patients with subacute and chronic forms of psoriasis were treated with Mahonia aquifolium ointment.
Of 443 patients entered into the study, 375 were treated over the planned period of 12 weeks, or dropped out of the study early because of healing, A modified PASI score feel significantly from 5.5 plus or minus 4.0 to 2.3 plus or minus 2.6. According to an overall evaluation by dermatologists, symptoms improved or disappeared in 81% of patients. According to a subjective evaluation by the patients, 79.7% improved or healed completely. The tolerability of M. aquifolium ointment was evaluated as good or very good by 82.4% of patients.
There was a significant improvement in the quality of life, which was used as a subjective parameter throughout the study. While 30.1% of patients had significant or severe symptoms at the start, this fell to 5.6% after 12 weeks. M. aquifolium ointment is thus a well-tolerated preparation which should find a place in the treatment of psoriasis.
Products of lipoxygenase metabolism are known to play a role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Six bisbenzylisoquinoline (BBIQ) alkaloids, oxyacanthine, armoline, baluchistine, berbamine, obamegine, aquifoline, isolated from Mahonia aquifolium, were tested for lipoxygenase inhibitors, whereas armoline and baluchistine exhibited only very low potencies. Oxyacanthine and bertamine were also among the most active compounds to inhibit lipid peroxidation. Between the results of lipoxgenase inhibition and the lipid peroxidation a linear correlation was found.
The data suggests that in the mechanism of lipoxygenase inhibition by these alkaloids, inhibition of lipid peroxide substrate accumulation, either by direct reaction with peroxide or by scavenging or lipid-derived radicals, may play a role. Inhibition of lipoxygenase by these compounds may contribute to the therapeutic effect of Mahonia aquifolium extracts in treatment of diseases in pathogenesis of which the products of lipoxygenase metabolism are involved (including psoriasis).
Dept. Cell/Mol, Biology of Drugs, Faculty of Pharmacy, J.A. Comenius University, Kalinciakova. 8, 83232 Bratislava Slovak Republic
Pharmazie (Germany, 1996, 51/10 (758-761)
Antifungal screening of medical plants of British Columbian native peoples
One hundred methanolic plant extracts were screened for antifungal activity against 9 fungal species. Eighty-one were found to have some antifungal activity and 30 extracts showed activity against 4 or more of the fungi assayed. The extracts with the greatest fungal inhibition were prepared from Mahonia aquifolium roots, Alnus rubra catkins, Artemisia, ludoviciana aerial parts, Artemisia tridentata aerial parts, Geum macrophyllum roots, and Moneses uniflora aerial parts.
McCutcheon A.R.; Ellis S.M.; Hancock R.E.W.; Towers G.H.N.
Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, 3515-6270 University Blvd, Vancouver, BC VIT 1ZA Canada. J. ETHNOPHARMACOL. (Ireland), 1994, 44/3 (157-169)
The antipsoriatic Mahonia aquifolium and its active constituents; I. Pro- and antioxidant properties and inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase
The effects of the extract of the bark of Mahonia aquifolium and its main constituents (berberine, berbamine, oxyacanthine) on 5-lipoxygenese, lipid peroxidation in phospholipid liposomes induced by 2,2’-azo-(bis-2-amidinopropane), deoxyribose degradation, and their reactives against the free radical 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl have been studied. The extract of M. aquifolium inhibits 5-LO with an IC50 value of 50 microM, whereas no appreciable effects were observed by its constituent alkaloids. Reactivity against DPPH increased in the following order: berberine < M. aquifolium < oxyacanthine, berbamine. Pro-oxidant effects by M. aquifolium or its constituents can be excluded, since deoxyribose degradation was not influenced as determined by the release of malondialdehyde. The most prominent feature of M. aquifolium is its efficacy in inhibition of lipid peroxidation (IC50 = 5 microM) which was not mentioned by the alkaloids berberine, berbamine, and oxyacanthine.
Muller K; Ziereis K..Institut fur pharmazie, Universitat Regensburg, Universitatsstr. 31, D-93040 Regensburg Germany PLANTA MED. (Germany), 1994, 60/5 (421-424)
A report on three recent clinical trials using M-Folia containing Mahonia aquifolium 10% topical cream and a review of the worldwide clinical experience with Mahonia aquifolium for the treatment of plaque psoriasis
This response continued 1 month after the end of treatment. Study 2 was a clinical trial of 32 patients with mild to moderate bilateral psoriasis treated up to 6 months. One side of the body received Mahonia and the other standard psoriatic treatment (eg, Dovonex cream). The primary outcomes were patient ratings of the Mahonia-treated side alone and the comparison between treatments received on each side of their body. Eighty-four percent of patients rated the Mahonia-treated psoriasis as good to excellent response. When compared with standard treatment, 63% of patients rated Mahonia aquifolium equal to or better than the standard psoriatic treatment.
Study 3 was an observational study of 33 patients with mild to moderate bilateral psoriasis treated for 1 month. The results indicate improvement in psoriasis after 1 week of treatment. The side treated with Mahonia did as well or better than the side treated with the vehicle cream. Results from these 3 open-label clinical trials are in agreement with published data that include placebo-controlled studies. Taken together, these clinical studies conducted by several investigators in several countries indicate that Mahonia aquifolium is a safe and effective treatment of patients with mild to moderate psoriasis.