Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
28. Ulusal 3. Uluslararası Farmakoloji Kongresi, Antalya, Türkiye, 20 - 23 Kasım 2025, ss.248, (Özet Bildiri)
Objective: Pathogenesis of psoriasis, an autoimmune systemic disease with skin lesions, has not been fully elucidated, however, recent evidence highlights a critical role of Th17/IL-23 axis. Astragaloside IV (AS-IV) is a major secondary metabolite of Astragalus membranaceus root that is registered in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia and exhibits anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and antioxidant activities. AS-IV decreases IL-17 and IL-23 in preclinical disease models, suggesting its modulatory effect on this pathway. This study aimed to investigate antipsoriatic effects of AS-IV in an imiquimod (IMQ)-induced mouse psoriasis model by evaluating psoriatic phenotype, splenomegaly, and histopathologyof the skin tissue. Methods: Dorsal skin (2×2 cm) of female BALB/c mice was shaved (day 0) and treated with 3.125 mg IMQ for eight consecutive days to induce psoriasis. Treatment groups received methotrexate (MTX, 1 mg/kg/day, i.p.) or AS-IV (1, 5, 20 mg/kg/day, i.p.). Psoriatic severity was assessed by PASI scoring. On day 9, skin samples were collected for Baker scoring (H&E), and spleen indices were calculated. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s post-hoc test; p<0.05 was considered significant. Results: Model group had an increased PASI score (Control: 0; Model: 7.83±0.65, p<0.0001) compared with the control. AS-IV markedly reduced PASI scores (1 mg/kg: 3.33±0.33; 5 mg/kg: 4.6 ±0.49; 20 mg/kg: 3.14±0.26; p <0.0001), similar to MTX (4.33±0.49). Elevated spleen index in the model group (Control: 3.01±0.26; Model: 8.64±0.34 mg/g, p<0.0001) was reduced by MTX (p<0.0001), AS-IV at 1 and 20 mg/kg (p<0.001). Histopathology revealed epidermal thickening in the model group (Control: 0; Model: 1.5, p< 0.0001), while 1 mg/kg AS-IV partially improved epidermal morphology (1.10±0.24, p = 0.104). Conclusion: AS-IV may ameliorate psoriatic lesions by modulating immune-mediated inflammatory processes, suggesting its potential as an alternative or adjunctive therapeutic agent for psoriasis. Keywords: Astragaloside IV, imiquimod, inflammation, psoriasis, splenomegaly