Effect of Topical Petroleum Ether and Ethyl Acetate Fractions From Euphorbia milii on Imiquimod-induced Psoriasis-like Skin Inflammation in Mice

Background: Psoriasis is a chronic, untreatable and disabling disease. In this research, we investigated the pharmacological properties of Euphorbia milii petroleum ether and ethyl acetate in a psoriasis mouse model.  Methods: Thirty-one albino mice were used in this study. They were divided into five groups: group I, healthy animals; group II, inducer group with imiquimod 12.5 mg (5% cream); and groups III, IV and V were imiquimod-induced and then treated with clobetasol 0.05% in group III, E. milii petroleum ether fraction in group IV and E. milii ethyl acetate fraction in group V. Immunohistochemistry for interleukin-17 (IL-17), vascular endothelial growth factor and transforming growth factor-beta, as well as histopathology were done on the mice skin. Results: E. milii petroleum ether group showed a significant decrease in skin immunohistochemistry of IL-17, transforming growth factor-beta, and other histopathology parameters, while ethyl acetate fraction showed a significant reduction in vascular endothelial growth factor and other histopathology parameters Conclusion: E. milii petroleum ether and ethyl acetate fractions may have a role in psoriasis treatment in a mice model.