Chemical profiling and anti-psoriatic activity of marine sponge (Dysidea avara) in induced imiquimod-psoriasis-skin model.

Since Marine sponge Dysidea avara is regarded as a source of anti-inflammatory compounds, we decided to evaluate its potential anti-psoriatic activity in a psoriasis Imiquimod-induced in the mouse model. Psoriatic mice were treated with three different methanolic extracts of Dysidea avara compared with betamethasone-treated mice in in- vivo studies. Clinical skin severity was assessed with the psoriasis area index (PASI), whilst ELISA detected the expression of TNF-α, IL-17A, and IL-22. Dysidea avara activity was studied by employing GC-MS (to distinguish compounds), HPTLC (for skin permeation and accumulation), and SEA DOCK to predict single compound potential anti-inflammatory activity. After 7 days of treatment, mice treated with Dysidea avara displayed a dose-dependent, statistically significant improvement compared to controls (p< 0.001). In line with the clinical results, ELISA revealed a statistically significant decrease in IL-22, IL-17A, and TNF-α after treatment; the same SEA DOCK analysis suggests a possible anti-psoriatic activity of the extracts.