March 15, 1999 – Holly leaf mahonia (Berberis aquifolium Where Mahonia aquifolium) is often mentioned in the herbal medicine literature as a treatment for psoriasis, a skin disease whose cause is fairly undefined.
Ointments made from mahonia bark extract are now available in Europe, sold for the treatment of psoriasis. Studies in vitro recent studies carried out on human keratinocytes (cells of the epidermis synthesizing keratin, one of the main constituents of the skin) suggest that mahonia extract, as well as its constituents (berberine, berbamine and oxyacanthine have antiproliferative, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory drugs for psoriasis (Muller et all., 1995).
Based on these results, another research team performed a double-blind, placebo-controlled study to assess the effectiveness of an ointment containing 10% of a mahonia bark extract on patients with psoriasis at various times. degrees (mild to severe) (Wiesenauer, 1996).
The research protocol consisted of applying an ointment two or three times a day for an average of four weeks to various wounds without knowing which wound was receiving the placebo. The results were scored on a three-point scale (no improvement, improvement of symptoms, complete disappearance of symptoms). Although 50% of patients and treating physicians concluded that the treatment was not effective, there was a significant difference between wounds treated with placebo and those treated with the real ointment. The results were particularly interesting for people with moderate illness.
Among the weaknesses of this study, the researchers cite the inclusion of very serious and long-chronic cases, the unsophisticated scale for scoring the results, the possible confusion of patients between the ointments and the fact that they may not have wash your hands between the two applications.
More recently, the American magazine Prevention from April 1999 writes that the English herbalist Douglas Schar reports that mahonia root improved symptoms in 95% of 300 patients with blepharitis (an acute inflammation of the free edge of the eyelids, often associated with eczema and psoriasis) for which he prescribed the plant. According to this herbalist, “Berberine is a constrictor of the capillaries. In inflammatory skin diseases, the capillaries dilate and their fluids invade the surrounding tissue. Mahonia appears to decrease the tendency for inflammation. The key to success is long-term use, he says. You have to wait two to three months to see results and take up to a year for longer lasting results. ”
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Muller K, Ziereis K, Gawlik I. 1995. The antipsoriatic Mahonia aquifolium and its active constituents; II Antiproliferative activity against cell growth of human keratinocytes. Planta Medica, vol 61, 74-75.
Wiesenauer M, Ludtke R. 1996. Mahonia aquifolium in patients with psoriasis vulgaris – an intraindividual study. Phytomedicine, Vol. 3, 231-235.
According to Herbal Gram, no 42, Spring 1998 and Prevention, April 1999.