Mahonia Aquifolium for Psoriasis
Title: A report on three recent clinical trials
using Mahonia aquifolium 10% topical cream and a review of the
worldwide clinical experience with Mahonia aquifolium for the
treatment of plaque psoriasis.
Authors: Gulliver WP, Donsky HJ
Publication: Am J Ther. 2005 Sep-Oct;12(5):398-406.
The authors summarized the result of 3 recent clinical trials
and worldwide clinical experience with Mahonia aquifolium in patients
with psoriasis.
The first study was an open-label study to evaluate the safety
of Mahonia aquifolium in 39 patients treated for 12 weeks. The
study concluded with a statistically significant improvement in
PASI (Psoriasis Area and Severity Index) and DLQI (Dermatology
Life Quality Index) after 4 weeks.
The second study was a clinical trial of 32 patients with mild
to moderate psoriasis treated up to 6 months. In each patient,
one side of the body was treated with Mahonia, and the other was
treated with Dovonex cream, a standard treatment for psoriasis.
In this study, it was determined that when looking at the Mahonia-side
alone, 84% of patients rated the psoriasis had good to excellent
response. When compared to the standard treatment-side, 63% rated
Mahonia aquifolium as equal or better than the standard treatment.
The third study involved 33 patients with mild to moderate psoriasis
treated for 1 month. In each patient, one side of the body was
treated with Mahonia and the other side was only given placebo
cream. After 1 week, the patients reported improvement and the
Mahonia-side rated well or better than the placebo-treated side.
The authors concluded that when taken together, these studies
indicated that Mahonia aquifolium is a safe and effective treatment
of mild to moderate psoriasis.
Editor’s Note: Mahonia aquifolium is also known
as Oregon Grape.
