Effects of Lycopene as Monotherapy or Combined with Clobetasol on Spleen Index and Inflammatory Markers in Mouse Model of Imiquimod-Induced Psoriasis

Abstract

Background: Lycopene has demonstrated favorable impacts on diverse health conditions, particularly those of an inflammatory nature. Objective: To evaluate the impact of topical application of lycopene on the spleens of mice with psoriasis induced by imiquimod (IMQ). Methods: The study employed a sample size of 48 mice, divided into six groups of eight mice each. The experimental protocol involved the application of IMQ to each of the five groups twice. The first application was administered for six days to induce psoriasis, followed by a second application for another six days while the tested medications were concurrently administered, with the exception of the first group, which served as the control group. Following the six-day induction phase, group 2 was treated exclusively with petrolatum jelly. On the other hand, groups 3-6 were subjected to different treatments, including clobetasol propionate, lycopene at concentrations of 0.125 mg/ml and 0.25 mg/ml, and a combination of 0.05% clobetasol and 0.25 mg/ml of lycopene. Each of the examined pharmaceutical substances was administered topically once daily for a duration of six days at the IMQ application site. Results: Lycopene at a concentration of 0.25 mg/ml resulted in a significant reduction in the spleen index and a restoration of the tissue levels of inflammatory mediators (TNF-α, IL-23, NF-κB, and IL-17) that were close to normal. Conclusion: The anti-inflammatory properties of lycopene can significantly aid in the normalization of spleens in patients who have developed psoriasis due to imiquimod.matory capabilities.