ANTIPSORIATIC ACTIVITY OF GENISTEIN: A REVIEW

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by red, scaly and raised patches, and it has affected nearly 2-3% of the population worldwide. This skin disorder occurs when the immune system sends faulty signals that result in the speeding up of the skin cell cycle. Psoriasis is histologically characterized by marked hyperproliferation of keratinocytes, neutrophils, and a dense inflammatory infiltrate of T cells. Vascular dilation and proliferation are also observed. The primary defect in psoriasis patients was believed to be an abnormal epidermal cell proliferation. Psoriatic skin exhibits an advanced state of lipid peroxidation. It has been suggested that antioxidant treatment can help in the management of the disorder. Literature indicates that polyphenolic compounds found in plants have a positive effect on many chronic diseases. Natural polyphenols, recognized as potent antioxidants, are multi-functional molecules that can act as anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative agents through the modulation of multiple signalling pathways. This characteristic could be advantageous for the treatment of multi-causal diseases, such as psoriasis. Genistein is one of such polyphenolic compounds that can be used for the treatment of psoriasis. Genistein prevents cytokines & TNF-α-induced NF-κB nuclear translocation, with no effect on the PI3K signalling cascade. It leads to attenuation of TNF-α and LPS-induced inflammatory responses by suppressing ROS activation.