Abstract

HERBAL THERAPEUTICS IN PSORIASIS MANAGEMENT: A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF ANTI-PSORIATIC MEDICINAL PLANTS

G. Sridhar*, A. S. K. Sankar, V. Kalaivani, Rasiga M., Rohith S., Rohith Thiriyegan B., Rubin Kumar S. S., Sabari D.

ABSTRACT

This review provides a comprehensive overview of the anti-psoriatic potential of medicinal plants traditionally used in the management of psoriasis. It discusses the pathophysiology of psoriasis, limitations of existing therapies, and the role of plant-derived biomolecules—including flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, phenolics, and saponins—in modulating inflammatory pathways, oxidative stress, and keratinocyte hyperproliferation. Experimental evidence from in vitro assays, such as HaCaT keratinocyte proliferation, nitric oxide inhibition, cytokine quantification, and oxidative stress models, as well as in vivo animal models including mouse tail and imiquimod-induced psoriasis, are critically reviewed. Medicinal plants such as Aloe vera, Curcuma longa, Wrightia tinctoria, Cassia tora, Centella asiatica, and Thespesia populnea demonstrate promising antipsoriatic activity through multi-argeted mechanisms. Overall, this review highlights the therapeutic relevance of herbal plants in psoriasis management and emphasizes the need for standardized extracts, mechanistic validation, and well-designed clinical trials to facilitate their integration into modern dermatological practice.

Keywords: Psoriasis, Medicinal plants, Anti-psoriatic activity, Herbal therapy, Keratinocyte proliferation, Inflammation, HaCaT cells, Imiquimod-induced psoriasis.