<em>Posidonia oceanica</em> (L.) Delile Is a Promising Marine Source Able to Alleviate Imiquimod-Induced Psoriatic Skin Inflammation
Laura Micheli,
Marzia Vasarri,
Donatella Degl’Innocenti,
Lorenzo Di Cesare Mannelli,
Carla Ghelardini,
Antiga Emiliano,
Alice Verdelli,
Marzia Caproni,
Emanuela Barletta
Affiliations
Laura Micheli
Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), Pharmacology and Toxicology Section, University of Florence, 50139 Firenze, Italy
Marzia Vasarri
Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences “Mario Serio”, Biochemistry Section, University of Florence, 50134 Firenze, Italy
Donatella Degl’Innocenti
Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences “Mario Serio”, Biochemistry Section, University of Florence, 50134 Firenze, Italy
Lorenzo Di Cesare Mannelli
Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), Pharmacology and Toxicology Section, University of Florence, 50139 Firenze, Italy
Carla Ghelardini
Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), Pharmacology and Toxicology Section, University of Florence, 50139 Firenze, Italy
Antiga Emiliano
Department of Health Sciences, Dermatology Section, University of Florence, 50125 Firenze, Italy
Alice Verdelli
Central Tuscany Local Health Authority, Department of Multidimensional Medicine, Immuno-Rheumatology and Infectious Diseases Area, Dermatology SOC, Dermatological Rare Diseases SOS, 50125 Firenze, Italy
Marzia Caproni
Department of Health Sciences, Dermatology Section, University of Florence, 50125 Firenze, Italy
Emanuela Barletta
Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences “Mario Serio”, Experimental Pathology and Oncology Section, University of Florence, 50134 Firenze, Italy
Psoriasis is a chronic immune-mediated inflammatory cutaneous disease characterized by elevated levels of inflammatory cytokines and adipokine Lipocalin-2 (LCN-2). Recently, natural plant-based products have been studied as new antipsoriatic compounds. We investigate the ability of a leaf extract of the marine plant Posidonia oceanica (POE) to inhibit psoriatic dermatitis in C57BL/6 mice treated with Imiquimod (IMQ). One group of mice was topically treated with IMQ (IMQ mice) for 5 days, and a second group received POE orally before each topical IMQ treatment (IMQ-POE mice). Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) score, thickness, and temperature of the skin area treated with IMQ were measured in both groups. Upon sacrifice, the organs were weighed, and skin biopsies and blood samples were collected. Plasma and lesional skin protein expression of IL-17, IL-23, IFN-γ, IL-2, and TNF-α and plasma LCN-2 concentration were evaluated by ELISA. PASI score, thickness, and temperature of lesional skin were reduced in IMQ-POE mice, as were histological features of psoriatic dermatitis and expression of inflammatory cytokines and LCN-2 levels. This preliminary study aims to propose P. oceanica as a promising naturopathic anti-inflammatory treatment that could be introduced in Complementary Medicine for psoriasis.
