Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by immune system dysfunction, as well as activation and abnormal proliferation of keratinocytes. According to statistics from the International Federation of Psoriasis Associations (IFPA), approximately 2%-3% of the global population is affected by psoriasis. The 2023 China Psoriasis Patient Recurrence Insight Research Report shows that there are nearly 7 million psoriasis patients in China, among which 65% have a disease course of over 10 years. On average, patients experience 8 recurrences, and nearly 60% of patients have suffered more than 10 recurrences.
Recently, a research team from China Pharmaceutical University published a study in Phytomedicine confirming that bergenin can improve psoriasis by targeting γδ T17 cells via PPARγ-mediated ubiquitination and degradation of PROX1.
How Bergenin Improves Psoriasis?
The core feature of psoriasis is the abnormal activation of γδ T17 cells. Bergenin (Ber), the main active ingredient of Bergenia purpurascens, is a natural peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) agonist with the potential to inhibit γδ T17 cell activation.
Researchers evaluated the regulatory effect of Ber-activated PPARγ on psoriasis and γδ T17 cells through in vitro and in vivo experiments. They first analyzed the activation of PPARγ and γδ T17 cells in psoriasis patients and an imiquimod (IMQ)-induced C57BL/6 mouse model. Combined with Seahorse metabolic analysis, co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) and chromatin immunoprecipitation quantitative PCR (ChIP-qPCR), they detected fatty acid oxidation (FAO) levels, the degradation of Prospero Homeobox 1 (PROX1), and its impact on IL-17A transcription.
The results showed that Ber alleviated psoriatic dermatitis in a PPARγ-dependent manner and inhibited γδ T17 cell activation; adoptive transfer of activated γδ T17 cells reversed this therapeutic effect. At the mechanistic level: after Ber activates PPARγ, it enhances the activity of related E3 ligases, promotes the ubiquitination and degradation of PROX1 at the K248 site, thereby inhibiting CPT1-mediated fatty acid oxidation, reducing the acetylation levels of histone H3K9/27 at the IL-17A promoter, and ultimately decreasing IL-17A production.
Bergenia purpurascens Is Not Chinese Cabbage
Bergenia purpurascens (Hook.f. & Thomson) Engl. is a herbaceous plant of the genus Bergenia in the Saxifragaceae family. It grows in forests, alpine meadows and rock crevices, with aliases including dwarf cabbage, rock vegetable, and dull cabbage. It is mainly distributed in parts of Asia, including China, Mongolia, Siberia, Altai and the Himalayas.
Bergenia purpurascens is sweet and astringent in taste, cool in nature, and acts on the liver, lung and spleen meridians. It was first recorded in the Qing Dynasty Classified Herbal Properties: "Resolves phlegm and stops cough. Treats all internal injury hematemesis, asthma, and stranguria." In addition, it is commonly used in Tibetan medicine for tonification, hemostasis and cough relief; in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nepalese and Indian medicine, it can improve diarrhea, bleeding and cough, with effects of relaxing tendons, calming the liver to extinguish wind, and dredging collaterals.
Main Active Ingredients of Bergenia purpurascens
Phenolic Compounds:Approximately 21 phenolic compounds have been found in Bergenia purpurascens. Among them, bergenin is the main phenolic substance, mainly present in the roots and rhizomes of the plant, with lower content in stems and leaves.
Flavonoids:About 11 flavonoids have been identified, including catechin, kaempferol and quercetin.
Organic Acids:Approximately 6 organic acids have been detected. Gallic acid is mainly present in leaf cells; other components include syringic acid, protocatechuic acid and vanillic acid.
Additional Pharmacological Effects of Bergenia purpurascens
Modern pharmacological studies show that Bergenia purpurascens has a wide range of pharmacological activities, including antibacterial, antitussive and hepatoprotective effects.
Antibacterial Activity:In vitro experiments show that Bergenia purpurascens extract has inhibitory effects on Staphylococcus aureus (SA), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Staphylococcus aureus (ESBLs-SA). Animal experiments indicate that the extract may inhibit xylene-induced mouse ear edema and cotton pellet granuloma hyperplasia, and reduce capillary permeability by suppressing the release of inflammatory mediators such as serotonin and histamine.
Hepatoprotective Effect:Bergenia purpurascens has potential liver-protective properties. Studies confirm that bergenin inhibits the release of alanine aminotransferase and sorbitol dehydrogenase, promotes RNA synthesis, and protects hepatocytes in galactosamine-poisoned rats.
In addition, in a liver ischemia-reperfusion injury model, bergenin scavenges reactive oxygen species (ROS), regulates the release of inflammatory factors, and modulates the expression of apoptosis and autophagy-related genes via the PPAR-γ pathway to exert hepatoprotective effects.
Antitussive Effect:Studies have found that bergenin can improve chronic bronchitis. It may ameliorate glycerophospholipid, tryptophan, arginine and proline metabolism dysfunction induced by chronic bronchitis (CB), alter arachidonic acid (ARA) metabolism, thereby inhibiting inflammatory cell infiltration, reducing mucus secretion, and decreasing the number of white blood cells in mouse bronchoalveolar lavage fluid.
Neuroprotective Effect:In vitro experiments found that bergenin inhibits acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) activities, and reduces oxidative stress by increasing glutathione levels. In vivo experiments confirm that bergenin can reverse hippocampal structural damage induced by scopolamine and streptozotocin (STZ).
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