An Investigation into the Claimed Improvement in Efficacy of Ayurvedic Ointment Used In the Treatment of Psoriasis, By the Addition of Pongamia Pinnata against Mouse Tail Model

Background: Chronic plaque psoriasis is an immune-mediated, inflammatory skin disease. Current treatments are unable to counter the inflammatory conditions of psoriasis. Methods: The present study was carried out to evaluate whether the presence of the aqueous extract obtained from the bark of Pongamia pinnata in a topical ayurvedic preparation, SUEX GEL. It has many beneficial effects over similar preparation in which it is not included, both preparations being used in the treatment of psoriasis. Effect of ointment base and the two topical preparations on the normal skin was carried out using the Mouse tail model for psoriasis due to its resemblance, which was observed in psoriasis. Results: The presence of the extract in the topical preparation (SUEX GEL) is significantly reduce most of the alteration in the skin parameters that occur on exposure to UV radiation where as no change was observed with the preparation not having the aqueous extract. In addition SUEX GEL brought about retention of stratum granulosum, a layer found in the normal skin but absent in the irradiated skin. There is reduction in infiltration of neutrophils into the epidermal layers and also retention of the stratum granulosum with the use of SUEX GEL on the irradiated skin as evidenced in histopathological observations. Conclusions: The ointment SUEX GEL does not produce any abnormality when applied on normal skin. The presence of the aqueous extract of the bark of Pongamia pinnata does produce an improvement in the efficacy of the ayurvedic ointment (SUEX GEL) used in the treatment of psoriasis.