الفهرس 
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Abstract
Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the skin. There is a state of chronic inflammation that influences all body systems so it is associated with multiple comorbidities.
About 4% of world population suffers psoriasis. Psoriasis is a multifactorial disorder. The genetic susceptibility interacts with environmental triggers causing dysregulated immune response, abnormal keratinocyte proliferation and vascular phenomenon that manifest eventually as psoriatic plaques.
Although there are many therapies available in the armamentarium for psoriasis, patients still suffer from shortage in effective treatment options. In 2016 global report on psoriasis, WHO has called upon member states to encourage the efforts of developing new therapies for psoriasis.
Patients with psoriasis are increasingly interested in natural and herbal remedies, since they are believed to be equally effective to and less hazardous than conventional treatment options.
Patients with psoriasis resort to herbal extracts among other complementary medicines as a monotherapy or commonly combined to traditional medicine. Those natural extracts are usually used during the maintenance phase of treatment to minimize the time of exposure to the conventional treatments and their associated toxicities.
Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a rhizomatous plant native in Southeast Asia and India. Diferuloylmethane (curcumin) is the active component in turmeric extract. Curcumin is hydrophopic so its bioavailability following oral ingestion is poor. Curcumin shows anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant and anticancer activities
Oral bioavailability of curcumin is questionable and in oral supplements curcumin is frequently added to black pepper to enhance its absorption.
The proposed mechanisms of action of curcumin in psoriasis include anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anti proliferative and antioxidant properties among others.
In this study, the effectiveness and tolerability of 5 % curcumin levigated in glycerol in an ointement formula and 5 % curcumin levigated in olive oil in an ointment formula were investigated for treatment of psoriasis vulgaris for 4 weeks.
The participants were assessed on clinical and histopathological level and the response was compared to patients receiving the base ointment and with those who did not receive any therapy at all.
In this study, we found that 5 % curcumin in glycerol and 5 % curcumin in olive oil caused significant reduction in the psoriasis disease severity assessed clinically using PASI score and on histopathological level using psoriasis pathology score.
The reported effectiveness of 5% curcumin ointment was associated with reduction in activated NFκB level. NFκB is a key player is psoriasis development.
The ointment was tolerated and the reported side effects were minimum, including staining and pruritus and did not cause any patient withdrawal. 5% curcumin ointment is a safe and effective treatment option for psoriasis vulgaris.