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World J Dermatol. Nov 2, 2014; 3(4): 86-91
Published online Nov 2, 2014. doi: 10.5314/wjd.v3.i4.86
Phytotherapy and psoriasis: Complementary and alternative medications
Sami A Gabr, Ahmad H Alghadir
Sami A Gabr, Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt
Sami A Gabr, Ahmad H Alghadir, Rehabilitation Research Chair, King Saud University, Riyadh 11433, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Ahmad H Alghadir, Department of Rehabilitation Science, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11433, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Author contributions: Gabr SA and Alghadir AH contributed to this paper.
Correspondence to: Dr. Sami A Gabr, Rehabilitation Research Chair, King Saud University, 2454, Riyadh 11433, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. nadalab2009@hotmail.com
Telephone: +966-56-2060018 Fax: +966-14-698541
Received: December 23, 2013
Revised: September 8, 2014
Accepted: October 14, 2014
Published online: November 2, 2014
Processing time: 325 Days and 10 Hours
Abstract

Psoriasis comprises severe skin problems affects on quality of patient’s life. It affects 2% of the general population with age before 35 years old. Most potent and cheap psoriatic drugs are still largely unavailable. Recently, as aresult of the apparent side effects of chemical drugs, treatments of herbal origin gains the popularity among patients with skin disorders especially those for psoriasis. In this review, the uses of complementary and alternative medications of various topical herbal formulae with different potency against psoriasis was greatly assessed. Modified Psoriasis scoring systems were performed as evident of improvement when various topical herbal formula including traditional chinese medicine ingredients such as Camptotheca acuminate, Oleum horwathiensis, Capsaicin, furocoumarins, Curcumin, and Tars were used against psoriasis. Also, plant extracts of Aleo Vera, and green tea were reported in topical form for the treatment of psoriasis. Most studies indicated a variety of biological activities of used herbs depending on their chemical constituents. This versatile range of biological activities explaining, the apparent benefits of these herbs in monitoring of psoriasis.

Keywords: Psoriasis; Herbal medicine; Skin disorders; Chinese herbal medicine; Traditional chinese medicine

Core tip: Herbal medicine plays a significant role in the treatment of psoriasis; this review gives a shed of light on some herbal medicine formulae and extracts including Aleo Vera, and green tea. These plants extracts and its formulae exhibited efficiency as anti-psoriasis agents. This may relate to the varying biological activities especially tissue repair actions.