Assessing Antipsoriatic Effects of Bitter Pu’er Tea and Its Three Major Compounds, Strictinin, Theacrine and Epigallocatechin Gallate, in Imiquimod-Treated Mice

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with hyperproliferation and aberrant differentiation of keratinocytes in association the elevation interleukin-17A (IL-17A) IL-23 levels. In an animal model, psoriasis-like dermatitis was induced on shaved dorsal BALB/c mice by topical application imiquimod (IMQ), synthetic ligand Toll-like receptor 7. Administration bitter Pu’er tea significantly reduced IMQ-treated mice, including reduction lesions, splenomegaly mRNA expression levels IL-17A IL-23. To examine putative antipsoriatic constituents, three major compounds tea, strictinin, theacrine epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), were separately given as supplements to mice. The results showed that all attenuated severity psoriasis reducing epidermal thickness. Only splenomegaly. All inhibited well content IL-17A+CD4+ T cells spleen, strictinin found be relatively effective. It seemed activity attributed additive effects its multiple active compounds.