Oxymatrine ameliorates Malassezia overgrowth-induced psoriasis in vivo and in vitro by inhibiting the biofilm formation and inflammation

The basidiomycetous yeast genus Malassezia is involved in the exacerbation of psoriatic lesions. Oxymatrine (OMT), a quinoline alkaloid derived from Sophora flavescens, exhibits diverse pharmacological properties, including anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antiviral effects. However, whether OMT e...

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Main Authors: Miao-Miao Liu, Jie Bai, Zi-Ye Tian, Ting-Ting Zheng, Teun Boekhout, Qi-Ming Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-06-01
Series:Mycology
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/21501203.2025.2511903
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author Miao-Miao Liu
Jie Bai
Zi-Ye Tian
Ting-Ting Zheng
Teun Boekhout
Qi-Ming Wang
author_facet Miao-Miao Liu
Jie Bai
Zi-Ye Tian
Ting-Ting Zheng
Teun Boekhout
Qi-Ming Wang
author_sort Miao-Miao Liu
collection DOAJ
description The basidiomycetous yeast genus Malassezia is involved in the exacerbation of psoriatic lesions. Oxymatrine (OMT), a quinoline alkaloid derived from Sophora flavescens, exhibits diverse pharmacological properties, including anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antiviral effects. However, whether OMT exerts therapeutic effects against Malassezia-associated psoriasis remains unclear. This work aimed to study the antifungal and antibiofilm effect of OMT on several Malassezia species and the therapeutic benefits of OMT on Malassezia-associated psoriasis in vivo and in vitro. Treatment with 0.64 mg/mL OMT showed decreasing levels of biofilm formation of Malassezia species. Histomorphology and functional analyses demonstrated that OMT treatment effectively alleviated Malassezia-induced psoriatic lesions and repaired skin barrier integrity. Furthermore, the results demonstrate that OMT significantly reduced the levels of malonaldehyde, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-17, IL-23, and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α while promoting the activation of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione. OMT also reversed Malassezia-associated apoptosis and decreased the expression of the STAT3/Nf-κB/p-Nf-κB signalling pathway. Additionally, OMT reduces the nuclear expression of AhR/Nrf2 in Malassezia-stimulated HaCaT cells. In summary, this study demonstrated that OMT inhibits Malassezia biofilm formation and ameliorates Malassezia-associated psoriasis by modulating oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis via STAT3/Nf-κB and AhR/Nrf2 pathways.
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spelling doaj-art-1de63dc0a9844f868a3a1e669c6715372025-08-20T03:44:57ZengTaylor & Francis GroupMycology2150-12032150-12112025-06-0112110.1080/21501203.2025.2511903Oxymatrine ameliorates Malassezia overgrowth-induced psoriasis in vivo and in vitro by inhibiting the biofilm formation and inflammationMiao-Miao Liu0Jie Bai1Zi-Ye Tian2Ting-Ting Zheng3Teun Boekhout4Qi-Ming Wang5School of Life Sciences, Institute of Life Sciences and Green Development, Hebei University, Baoding, ChinaSchool of Life Sciences, Institute of Life Sciences and Green Development, Hebei University, Baoding, ChinaSchool of Life Sciences, Institute of Life Sciences and Green Development, Hebei University, Baoding, ChinaSchool of Life Sciences, Institute of Life Sciences and Green Development, Hebei University, Baoding, ChinaCollege of Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaSchool of Life Sciences, Institute of Life Sciences and Green Development, Hebei University, Baoding, ChinaThe basidiomycetous yeast genus Malassezia is involved in the exacerbation of psoriatic lesions. Oxymatrine (OMT), a quinoline alkaloid derived from Sophora flavescens, exhibits diverse pharmacological properties, including anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antiviral effects. However, whether OMT exerts therapeutic effects against Malassezia-associated psoriasis remains unclear. This work aimed to study the antifungal and antibiofilm effect of OMT on several Malassezia species and the therapeutic benefits of OMT on Malassezia-associated psoriasis in vivo and in vitro. Treatment with 0.64 mg/mL OMT showed decreasing levels of biofilm formation of Malassezia species. Histomorphology and functional analyses demonstrated that OMT treatment effectively alleviated Malassezia-induced psoriatic lesions and repaired skin barrier integrity. Furthermore, the results demonstrate that OMT significantly reduced the levels of malonaldehyde, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-17, IL-23, and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α while promoting the activation of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione. OMT also reversed Malassezia-associated apoptosis and decreased the expression of the STAT3/Nf-κB/p-Nf-κB signalling pathway. Additionally, OMT reduces the nuclear expression of AhR/Nrf2 in Malassezia-stimulated HaCaT cells. In summary, this study demonstrated that OMT inhibits Malassezia biofilm formation and ameliorates Malassezia-associated psoriasis by modulating oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis via STAT3/Nf-κB and AhR/Nrf2 pathways.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/21501203.2025.2511903OxymatrineMalasseziapsoriasisbiofilminflammation
spellingShingle Miao-Miao Liu
Jie Bai
Zi-Ye Tian
Ting-Ting Zheng
Teun Boekhout
Qi-Ming Wang
Oxymatrine ameliorates Malassezia overgrowth-induced psoriasis in vivo and in vitro by inhibiting the biofilm formation and inflammation
Mycology
Oxymatrine
Malassezia
psoriasis
biofilm
inflammation
title Oxymatrine ameliorates Malassezia overgrowth-induced psoriasis in vivo and in vitro by inhibiting the biofilm formation and inflammation
title_full Oxymatrine ameliorates Malassezia overgrowth-induced psoriasis in vivo and in vitro by inhibiting the biofilm formation and inflammation
title_fullStr Oxymatrine ameliorates Malassezia overgrowth-induced psoriasis in vivo and in vitro by inhibiting the biofilm formation and inflammation
title_full_unstemmed Oxymatrine ameliorates Malassezia overgrowth-induced psoriasis in vivo and in vitro by inhibiting the biofilm formation and inflammation
title_short Oxymatrine ameliorates Malassezia overgrowth-induced psoriasis in vivo and in vitro by inhibiting the biofilm formation and inflammation
title_sort oxymatrine ameliorates malassezia overgrowth induced psoriasis in vivo and in vitro by inhibiting the biofilm formation and inflammation
topic Oxymatrine
Malassezia
psoriasis
biofilm
inflammation
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/21501203.2025.2511903
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