Investigating the role of naringin and sericin in the treatment of psoriasis

In this study, researchers from different universities in Thailand investigated the potential application of naringin from Citrus maxima (pomelo) and sericin from Bombyx mori (domestic silk moth) for the treatment of psoriasis. Their findings were published in the journal BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

• A number of immunological pathways, especially skin inflammation triggered by various pro-inflammatory cytokines, are said to be involved in the pathogenesis and clinical manifestation of psoriasis.
• In search of an effective natural treatment for the skin disorder, the researchers evaluated the inhibitory effects of naringin and sericin combined on the mRNA expression and subsequent production of pro-inflammatory cytokines like TNF-a, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-23 and IL-12p40.
• They used human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (hPBMCs) from 10 healthy subjects and 10 psoriasis patients for their experiments.
• The researchers treated the hPBMCs from each group with naringin, sericin and a combination of both then measured the mRNA expression levels and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines using quantitative RT-PCR and ELISA, respectively.
• They found that the combination of naringin and sericin significantly decreased the mRNA expression and production of TNF-a, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-23 and IL-12p40 in the hPBMCs of psoriasis patients.
• The combination treatment showed markedly higher inhibitory activity than naringin or sericin alone, suggesting a potential for clinical use in the treatment of inflammatory diseases.

Based on these findings, the researchers concluded that the combination of naringin from C. maxima and sericin from B. mori can be used as a complementary therapy for the treatment of psoriasis.

Read the full study at this link.

Journal Reference:

Deenonpoe R, Prayong P, Thippamom N, Meephansan J, Na-Bangchang K. ANTI-INFLAMMATORY EFFECT OF NARINGIN AND SERICIN COMBINATION ON HUMAN PERIPHERAL BLOOD MONONUCLEAR CELLS (HPBMCS) FROM PATIENT WITH PSORIASIS. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 10 July 2019;19(1). DOI: 10.1186/s12906-019-2535-3