Being classified as a promising treatment for psoriasis, a research team has published a paper which is entitled “ Topical Astaxanthin Attenuates Imiquimod-Induced Psoriasiform Dermatitis by Downregulating Psoriasis-Associated Keratin Gene Expression (Krt16, Krt17, Krt6a) and Inhibiting the JAK-STAT Signaling Pathway” in Molecules 2026, 31(7), 1191 which classified within internatinal classification.
The study demonstrates that topical astaxanthin (AST) effectively attenuates imiquimod-induced psoriasiform dermatitis through a coordinated multi-mechanistic mode of action. AST suppressed key inflammatory mediators of the IL-23/IL-17 axis, restored oxidative balance by reducing NADPH oxidase activity and lipid peroxidation while enhancing endogenous antioxidant defenses, and inhibited JAK–STAT signaling, leading to downregulation of psoriasis-associated keratin genes and normalization of epidermal architecture. These molecular and biochemical improvements were strongly supported by marked histopathological recovery. Notably, high-dose AST exhibited therapeutic efficacy comparable to or exceeding that of clobetasol, suggesting its potential as a safer non-steroidal topical alternative. Collectively, these findings highlight astaxanthin as a promising antioxidant-based therapeutic candidate for psoriasis management and warrant further clinical validation.
The team includes Dr, Waleed Khaled Younis Albahadly , Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, University of Kerbala; Haider Falih Shamikh Al-Saedi , Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, University of Al-Ameed; Jamal Ali Ashoor ,
Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Kerbala and Mohammed Ibrahim Rasool Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, University of Kerbala; Samer Ali Hasan, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Kufa and Meeqaat H. ALtrufi , Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Kufa.
This research is an important scientific contribution in field of dermatology and biotherapy which bridges the gap and opens up future prospects for development of safe and effective topical treatments that could represent a non-steroidal alternative in treatment of psoriasis.
