BACKGROUND:Psoriasis is a chronic, recurrent inflammatory skin disease. It is characterised by autoimmune, environmental factors and complex genetic disorder.AIM:To explore the role of IL-6, IL-8, and ACE I/D polymorphism in the pathogenesis of Psoriasis and investigation of the relationship between ACE polymorphism and occurrence of psoriasis.PATIENTS AND METHODS:In this study, we took 73 psoriasis patients and 47 healthy patients as a control. These two groups subjected to analysis for ACE gene I/D polymorphism by PCR and biochemical methods.RESULTS:The serum levels of ACE, IL-8 and IL-6 were statistically significantly higher in psoriasis patients compared to healthy subjects (P < 0.001). ID and DD polymorphism were more common in psoriasis patients than healthy subjects. Also, D allele was significantly over-represented in patients compared to controls (52.7% Vs 35.1%).CONCLUSION:ACE gene polymorphism might grant susceptibility to develop psoriasis.

Abstract-Introduction:Calotropis procera commonly known as 'Sodom apple' is a 6-meter high shrub that belongs to the Asclepiadaceae plant family and is commonly found in West Africa and other tropical places. In Saudi Arabia the plant is commonly used in traditional medicine for the treatment of variety of diseases including fever, constipation, muscular spasm and joint pain. Aim: In the present study C. procera were investigated for the hepatoprotective activity. Material and Methods: Carbon tetrachloride is used to produce hepatotoxicity. Forty-two male albino rats, weighting 150-200 gm divided into seven groups, each consisted of 6 rats. Carbon tetrachloride 2 ml/kg was administered twice a week to all of the groups of animals except group I, which served as control and given the normal saline. Group II served as carbon tetrachloride control. Group III received Silymarin at 100 mg/kg/day dose, Group IV received aqueous leaves extracts C. procera 200 mg/kg, Group V received chloroform leaves extracts C. procera 200 mg/kg, Group VI received ethanol leaves extracts C. procera 200 mg/kg, Group VII received latex of C. procera 200 mg/kg. The effect of aqueous, chloroform, ethanol leaves extract and latex C. procera on biochemical parameters of liver was measured. Results: The results showed that the aqueous, chloroform, ethanol leaves extract and latex C. procera produced significant decrease in acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, total protein, albumin and total bilirubin levels compared to the CCL 4 treated group II. Conclusion: Calotropis procera appears to have hepatoprotective activity and these may be due to enrich of the plant by phytoconstituents that activate and hence a pharmacological response of different parts of the body and this study need further studies to show the complete properties of the plant.

Abstract-Introduction:Calotropis procera is a member of the plant family Asclepiadaceae, a shrub about 6m high and is widely distributed in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This study aimed to show some medicinal potentials and biological activity of Calotropis procera and to discover new natural, safe and effective materials available in the Saudi Arabia environment. Marerial and Methods: The leaves extracts and latex of Calotropis procera (C. procera) were investigated for its anti-hyperglycemic effect in Male Wister Albino rats. Diabetes was induced by administration of single dose of streptozotocin (STZ, 50 mg/kg, I.P). Fourty two male albino rats, weighting 150-200 gm divided into seven groups, each consisted of 6 rats as follows: Group I : Normal control, Group II: Diabetic control, Group III: Diabetic rats given Glibenclamide 600 μg/kg, Group IV: Diabetic rats given aqueous leaves extracts C. procera 200mg/kg b. wt, Group V: Diabetic rats given chloroform leaves extracts C. procera 200mg/kg b. wt, Group VI: Diabetic rats given ethanol leaves extracts C. procera 200mg/kg b. wt, Group VII: Diabetic rats given latex of C. procera 200mg/kg b. wt.The leaves extracts and latex of Calotropisprocera were administered as single dose per day to diabetes-induced rats for a period of 15 days.The effect of C. proceraon blood glucose level was measured in the diabetic rats. Serum lipid profile (Total cholesterol, triglycerides, low density, and high density lipoprotein) also were measured. The activities were also compared to that effect produced by a standard anti-diabetic agent, glibenclamide 500μg/kg. Results and Discussion: The results showed a significant decrease in the mean level of blood glucose and serum cholesterol, Triglycrides, HDL, LDL. Calotropis procera appears to be a rich source of phytoconstituents that activate and inhence a pharmacological response of different parts of the body and this study need further studies to shows the complete properties of the plant