Abstract: Objective To investigate the potential role of the traditional herbal medicine Datura metel L. in the treatment of psoriasis using TNF-α-induced inflammation in keratinocytes as a model. Methods Keratinocyte cell line HaCaT was used to establish a psoriasis cell model by tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) treatment. The experiment comprised three groups: a blank control group, TNF-α-induced psoriasis model group, and TNF-α + Datura metel L. intervention group. Level of IL-17 and CCL20 was measured ELISA, expression of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) subunit p65 protein was measured by Western blot. Endothelial cell tube formation experiment was conducted using an in vitro angiogenesis analysis kit. Results Compared to the TNF-α-induced psoriasis model group, the Datura metel L. extract significantly reduced the levels of IL-17 and CCL20 in the cell culture supernatant of TNF-α-induced psoriasis model (P＜0.001); Datura metel L. extract markedly decreased the NF-κB subunit p65 protein level in TNF-α-induced psoriasis model cells (P＜0.01); Datura metel L. extract effectively inhibited the induction of endothelial cell tube formation by the cell culture supernatant of the psoriasis model group. Conclusions The Datura metel L. extract down-regulates NF-κB signaling pathway molecules, reducing the production of IL-17 and CCL20 inflammatory factors in inflammatory keratinocytes and inhibiting angiogenesis.

Key words: psoriasis, Datura metel L., CCL20, angiogenesis