Mitigative Effects of Topical Norfloxacin on an Imiquimod-Induced Murine Model of Psoriasis

Abstract

Psoriasis is a chronic, inflammatory dermatosis characterized by thickened, reddened, and scaly skin lesions. Norfloxacin is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic with enhanced antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory bioactivities. The aim of this study was to figure out the possible impact of topical norfloxacin on an imiquimod-induced model of psoriasis in mice. Thirty albino-type mice were split into five distinct groups of six animals each. The control group included healthy mice that had not received any treatment. The induction group was given the vehicle 2 h after the topical imiquimod, once daily for 8 days. Two hours after receiving topical imiquimod, the treatment groups including calcipotriol, norfloxacin 2.5%, and norfloxacin 5% were given topical ointments containing calcipotriol 0.005%, norfloxacin 2.5%, and norfloxacin 5%, for 8 days. Topical norfloxacin ointment significantly reduced the severity of imiquimod-exacerbated psoriatic lesions including erythema, shiny-white scaling, and acanthosis and fixed histological abnormalities. Furthermore, imiquimod-subjected mice treated with a higher concentration of norfloxacin ointment exhibited dramatically lower skin levels of inflammation-related biomarkers like IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-17A, IL-23, and TGF-β but higher levels of IL-10. They also demonstrated a notable decrease in angiogenesis parameters such as VEGF and IL-8, a substantial reduction in oxidative indicators like MDA and MPO, and a considerable rise in antioxidant enzymes like SOD and CAT. This study offers novel evidence that norfloxacin may assist in controlling inflammatory dermatoses like psoriasis by minimizing the severity of psoriatic plaques, correcting histological alterations, and diminishing the production of inflammatory, oxidative, and angiogenetic parameters.