C-Phycocyanin derived from Spirulina maxima attenuates the symptoms of psoriasis in mouse models

Abstract Background: Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune disease caused by the abnormal proliferation of keratinocytes in the epidermis. The efficacy of c-phycocyanin, a photosynthetic pigment isolated from Spirulina maxima, was assessed via histological examinations, and anti-inflammatory properties were investigated in mouse models of imiquimod-induced psoriasis (BALB/C-nu and BALB/C).Result: C-Phycocyanin lowered epidermal thickening, as well as immune cell clustering in the dermis. Furthermore, C-phycocyanin modulated the levels of inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-6, cyclooxygenase-2, IL-1b) in the BALB/C-nu mouse model and psoriasis-related cytokines (IL-17a, interferon-gamma, calcitonin gene-related peptide) in BALB/c mice.Conclusion: We show that C-Phycocyanin could be developed as a natural pharmaceutical against psoriasis.