INFLUENCE OF SOLVENT EXTRACTION ON THE ANTI-PSORIATIC ACTIVITY OF MANGIFERA INDICA FLOWER EXTRACTS
Keywords:
Mangifera indica, Anti-psoriatic activity, Solvent extraction, Olive oilAbstract
Mangifera indica (M. indica), commonly known as mango, is a well-recognized medicinal plant in Ayurvedic medicine, traditionally used to treat various ailments and disorders. This study aimed to evaluate the anti-psoriatic potential of M. indica flower extracts prepared with different solvents, with the objective of developing a topical anti-psoriatic spray.
Fresh M. indica flowers were collected from Multan Mango Farm and subjected to maceration and grinding using n-hexane, ethanol, and olive oil as extraction solvents. The resulting extracts were stored in airtight glass containers for seven days and subsequently filtered through double-layered muslin cloth. The filtrates were then concentrated using a rotary evaporator at 37 °C under reduced pressure to obtain 5%, 10%, and 20% (w/v) formulations in their respective solvents. These preparations were administered topically via spray bottles to rabbits with Aldara (5% imiquimod)-induced psoriatic skin lesions.
A total of 33 rabbits (mean age 34.62 ± 5.11 years) were included in the study, with 27 animals assigned to experimental groups and 3 each to the positive and negative control groups. Corticosteroid ointment and distilled water were used as the standard and placebo controls, respectively. Remarkably, complete recovery from psoriatic symptoms was achieved in rabbits treated with the olive oil–based M. indica flower extract, accounting for 33.33% of the experimental group. Statistical analyses of the collected data were performed using SPSS version 22.
The results demonstrate the therapeutic efficacy of M. indica flower extracts in mitigating psoriatic symptoms. Differences in activity among solvent extracts emphasize the importance of solvent choice for optimizing the extraction of bioactive constituents. Overall, the study highlights the potential of M. indica as a natural, safer alternative to conventional allopathic therapies that often pose adverse side effects.
