INFLUENCE OF SOLVENT EXTRACTION ON THE ANTI-PSORIATIC ACTIVITY OF MANGIFERA INDICA FLOWER EXTRACTS

Abstract

Mangifera indica (M. indica), commonly known as mango, is a well-known medicinal plant in Ayurvedic medicine, traditionally used to treat a variety of diseases and disorders. The present study aimed to evaluate the anti-psoriatic potential of M. indica flower extracts prepared using different solvents, with the goal of developing a topical anti-psoriatic spray.

Fresh M. indica flowers were collected from Multan Mango Farm and processed through maceration and grinding using n-hexane, ethanol, and olive oil as solvents. Extracts were stored in airtight glass bottles for seven days, followed by filtration through double-layered muslin cloth. The filtrates were concentrated using a rotary evaporator at 37 °C under reduced pressure to prepare 5%, 10%, and 20% (w/v) solutions in their respective solvents. These formulations were topically applied using spray bottles to Aldara (5% imiquimod)-induced psoriatic skin lesions in rabbits.

A total of 33 rabbits (mean age 34.62 ± 5.11 years) were included, with 27 assigned to the experimental groups and 3 each to positive and negative controls. Corticosteroid ointment and distilled water served as standard and placebo controls, respectively. Notably, 100% recovery from psoriatic symptoms was observed in rabbits treated with the olive oil–based M. indica flower extract, representing 33.33% of the experimental group. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS version 22 on the collected data.

The findings demonstrate the therapeutic potential of M. indica flower extracts in alleviating psoriasis symptoms. Variations in efficacy among solvent extracts highlight the importance of solvent selection for optimizing the extraction of bioactive compounds. These results also underscore the promise of natural remedies as safer alternatives to conventional allopathic treatments, which often carry adverse effects.