Psoriasis,
a severe skin disease, is affecting at present
ca. 3% of the world population, even 6-8% in the
Nordic countries, and does not beneficiate as
yet of a definitive cure.
It can develop at any age. It starts with one
or two lesions and it extends all over the body,
evolving from a cosmetic problem to disfigurement.
The general health is not affected, except the
case in which psoriasis is associated with arthritis.
It is not an exaggeration to say that psoriasis
can ruin lives form the physical, emotional and
material point of view.
The disease has usually a slow evolution, following
the typical pattern of development and remission.
It generally appears as patches of raised red
skin covered by a flaky white buildup. These lesions
cure without traces and without affecting the
hair. The nails are sometimes badly affected.
Some patients may develop psoriasis on the site
of skin injuries (Koebner response).
The usual locations for psoriasis are: bony protuberances
(knee, elbow, lower back), scalp, external ears,
eyebrows, buttocks, and occasionally generalized
on the trunk.
Some cases are associated with severe arthritis
such as rheumatic arthritis. This disease is not
contagious (catching).
Clinical studies showed that psoriasis could be
triggered by numerous factors such as diet, physical
and emotional stress, nervous shocks. Certain
people are genetically more likely to develop
psoriasis but it can be triggered also by infectious
diseases, excessive cholesterol, emotional and
physiological stress, alcohol and a certain diet.
In order to develop a specific therapy for this
disease it is important to understand the processes
that psoriatic skin cells are based upon.
In the normal skin, the skin cells mature and
are shed about every 28 days, while the psoriatic
cells move to the surface of the skin over 3-4
days, approximately 9 times faster. The body can't
shed the skin cells fast enough and this process
results in patches also called "lesions",
that are an inadequate maturation. The cause for
this rapid and uncontrolled growth of epithelial
cells, a characteristic of psoriasis, is still
unknown. Many of psoriasis treatments are oriented
towards the removing of the plaques so that no
suffering would appear.
The treatments known up to now use corticosteroids,
retinoids, methrotrexate (cytostatics) and other
chemicals that lower the symptoms, but at what
costs?
These treatments are extern but also intern
and they are not related to the factors which
are actually causing the disease. A list of their
side effects is given below.
The corticosteroids may cause infections, advanced
osteoporosis, high blood pressure, low level of
potassium that leads to the weakening of muscles,
low vitamin D and zinc in the blood. Administrated
to children it may also interfere with growth.
The retinoids may cause loss of hair, severe gingivitis
up to the extraction of teeth, high cholesterol,
swelling, drying and irritation of the the eyelids
or/and lips, fetus malformations.
Metothrexate, which is used for long-time treatment
of psoriasis, causes severe side-effects such
as: abnormal function of liver and kidneys, weakening
of the immune system, interference with the folic
acid metabolism, fatigue, stomach irritations,
loss of hair, etc.
Because of these side effects, research has been
intensified in order to obtain active principles
out of plants for extern and intern treatment.
Thus, ointments have been developed based on Mahonia
Aquifolium extracts (that is an ornamental shrub
growing on the Pacific Coast of North America).
Extracts from the bark and root of Mahonia contain
alkaloids which contain powerful antimicrobial
and antifungal agents and which inhibit the growth
of various cell tumors. Also they are powerful
antioxidants which inhibit the growth of abnormal
skin cells (keratinocytes) and minimize the inflammation.
Plant extracts have been obtained as juices with
a miraculous effect on a large number of maladies,
including psoriasis. For example, the juice "Noni"
of the plant Morinda Citrifolia which grows in
Polynesia, Malaysia, Australia and SouthEast Asia.
The curative effect of such plant extracts seems
to be the result of their antioxidant activity
centered on the free radicals. Lately, a great
number of diseases (cardiovascular diseases, cancer,
eye diseases, neurological diseases, and aging
problems) are treated with antioxidants. Some
of the vitamins (vitamin A, b-carotene, vitamin
E, tocotrienols, vitamin C) are also antioxidants.
These antioxidants combine with the free radicals
in the human body, such as:
O2·· - superoxide
HO· - hydroxyl radical
HO2· - radical hydroperoxyl
L· - lipid radical
LO2· - peroxyl lipid radical
LO· - alcoxyl lipid radical
NO2· and NO·: radicals derived from
NO2 and NO
RS· - thyle radical
P· - protein radical
or other oxygenated non-radical but very reactive
species (pro-oxidants): H2O2, 1O2, LOOH, HOCl,
O3, which attacks the cell or interfere in the
metabolic processes and lower the immunity of
the organism.
Lately a great number of natural antioxidants
have been obtained, extracts from various plants
and which cover a large spectrum of diseases.
They may be not effective on every case, and
sometimes the treatment is very long. This can
be the result of the extraction method, which
may reduce the active species concentration;
it can be also the result of the antioxidant
efficiency, the organism immunity, etc.
The new products PSOROL and PHYTOPSOROL obtained
by the authors of this paper are based on their
activity towards stopping the oxidative stress
(the deterioration of the cells by the rapid
free radicals in the organism). The oxidative
stress has serious consequences for the human
organisms. It is a contributing factor for several
diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases,
diseases of the immune system and nervous system,
psoriasis, kidney and liver diseases, etc.
The oxidative stress influences also the aging
problems - the degenerative processes.
The new products PSOROL and PHYTOPSOROL are
protected by five patents, which have been,
awarded gold medals in the Brussels, Geneva
and Hanover international exhibitions.
These products are based on the mechanism for
stopping the oxidative stress, which is presented
in the schema below:
where:
Ro - are the free radicals
including the abnormal radical cells;
A - Oo - is the long life free radical;
LOo2 - are the lypid-peroxyl radicals
LOo - are the lipid-alkoxy radicals
POo - are the protein-alkoxy radicals
The mechanism was first studied on polymers,
and it is to be confirmed by studies on biological
systems.
The active species of PSOROL is an antioxidant-a
stable free radical (A - O·) and the
active species of PHYTOPSOROL are bioflavonoids
extracted from 6 - 10 Romanian plants.
The two products have been tested on many
volunteer patients. The results are shown in
figures 1 and 2:
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Fig. 1) Before
the treatment
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Fig. 2) After
5 weeks of treatment
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The advantages of the two new products are:
· They stop the oxidative stress
· The treatment is 2-3 times shorter
compared to the treatment with other products
· They have no side effects
· They also have a regenerative effect
on the skin
· They contribute to the improvement
of organism immunity
· Compositions can be formulated for
internal administration at much higher efficiency
· The two products fight also against
other diseases incurred by the oxidative stress.
Intense research work is carried out to obtain
the internal form of PSOROL and PHYTOPSOROL.
That is why we need sponsorship from interested
companies for finishing the research, because
millions of people from all over the world are
waiting for a treatment for psoriasis.
Ph.D. Eng.
Diana Andrei and Ph.D.
Eng. Constantin Andrei
Institute of Chemical Technology ITEC Brazi
CP 5, OP 1, Ploiesti, ROMANIA
Tel/Fax: 0040 244. 513.020, email:
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