Journal of Cosmetics, Dermatological Sciences and Applications, 2013, 3, 243-249
Published Online December 2013 (http://www.scirp.org/journal/jcdsa)
http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/jcdsa.2013.34037
Open Access JCDSA
243
Podophyllin (10%) Ointment: A New Therapeutic
Modality for Psoriasis*
Khalifa E. Sharquie1#, Adil A. Noaimi2, Wesal K. Al-Janabi3
1Scientific Council of Dermatology & Venereology, Iraqi Board for Medical Specializations, Department of Dermatology &
Venereology, College of Medicine, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq; 2Department of Dermatology & Venereology, College of
Medicine, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq; 3Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Baghdad Teaching Hospital,
Baghdad, Iraq.
Received August 25th, 2013; revised September 23rd, 2013; accepted October 30th, 2013
Copyright © 2013 Khalifa E. Sharquie et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution Li-
cense, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
ABSTRACT
Background: There are many topical therapies for the treatment of plaque psoriasis like steroid, dithranol, tar and vita-
min D analogues, but none of them is ideal. Most recently, in a pilot study, podophyllin 5% ointment on every other day
regimen was as effective as clobetasole 0.05% ointment twice daily. Objective: To reassess the efficacy of a higher
concentration of podophyllin (10%) in the treatment of mild psoriasis in comparison with clobetasole using a different
regimen. Patients and Methods: This is therapeutic, comparative, placebo-controlled study conducted at the Depart-
ment of Dermatology-Baghdad Teaching Hospital, during the period of January 2011 - October 2012. Eighty-seven
patients with mild plaque-type psoriasis were divided into three groups: Group A (30) patients were treated with podo-
phyllin 10% ointment; Group B (30) patients were treated with clobetasol propionate 0.05% ointment and Group C (27)
patients were treated with Vaseline as a placebo control group. All patients were treated on every other day. The effi-
cacy was evaluated every 2 weeks for 8 weeks using PASI score and the local and systemic side effects were recorded.
The relapse was recorded after cessation of therapy in those patients who achieved good response during another 8
weeks follow-up period. Results: The patients were 60 (68.9%) males and 27 (31.1%) females (male: female ratio,
2.2:1). Their ages ranged from 18 - 62 (36.4 ± 10) years. Their disease duration ranged from 0.1 - 40 (7.8 ± 8.5) years.
Their baseline PASI score ranged from 1.6 - 9.6 (4.4 ± 5.85). At the end of 8th week of therapy, Group A patients had
achieved much higher reduction in PASI score (77.4 ± 14.1) than Group B patients (60.4 ± 27.8), P value = 0.004, and
both of them were with statistically and significantly higher PASI reduction than patients in Group C (28 ± 23.4), P
value = <0.001. The total relapse rate during 8 weeks follow-up was much lower among Group A treated patients, 20%
versus 66.6% in Group B (P-value = 0.002), while the relapse rate was 100% in the Group C patients. Regarding side
effects: 3 (10%) patients developed erythema, burning, pain, blistering and hypopigmentationin Group A. No side ef-
fects were reported in Groups B nor C patients with no statistically significant difference among the three groups (P =
0.052). Conclusion: Podophyllin 10% ointment was more effective than clobetasole 0.05% ointment on every other day
treatment regimen at the end of 8 weeks treatment with no side effects and a much lower relapse rate in treatment of
mild plaque-type psoriasis.
Keywords: Podophyllin; Psoriasis; Iraqi Patients; Every Other Day Therapy
1. Introduction
Psoriasis is a common dermatological disease whose
aetiology is multifactorial, but the immune theory is the
most established one. Treatment of psoriasis depends on
its severity which could be topical or systemic. Topical
corticosteroid is commonly prescribed in psoriasis, but
frequently associated with many side effects especially
on long term use with high relapse rate. Dovonex and
dovobet had also been used but with less encouraging
results, and less side effects than topical corticosteroids
[1,2].
*Disclosure: This study is an independent study and not funded by any
drug company.
#Corresponding author.
Podophyllin, an alcoholic plant extract obtained from
dried rhizomes of common plants called emodi (Indian

Podophyllin (10%) Ointment: A New Therapeutic Modality for Psoriasis 244
podophyllum) or p odophyllumpeltatum (May apple or
Mandrake) [3]. Podophyllun resin contains many active
ingredients that work through multiple actions mainly by
arresting mitosis and differentiation, blocking oxidation
enzymes in tricaboxylic acid cycle and thus interfering
with cell nutrition, inhibiting axonal transport, protein,
RNA, and DNA synthesis and affecting mitochondrial
activity with reducing cytochrome oxidase activity [4].
Podophyllin had been used over a long time for the
treatment of viral warts with possible side effects if it’s
used on large area [3], and also been used in treatment of
genital warts in infants with no noticeable side effects [5].
Recently, podophyllin 25% had been used as effective
therapy for cutaneous leishmaniasis [6] and basal cell
carcinoma [7,8]. Most recently podophyllin 25% solution
had been used in treatment of genital warts in pregnant
women with no reported side effects in mothers and in-
fants for one year follow-up [9]. Those studies encour-
aged us to conduct a pilot study for the treatment of 62
patients with mild plaque psoriasis and the results were
very promising [10]. In that study, at the end of 8 weeks
treatment, podophyllin 5% ointment on every other day
was found to be as effective as clobetasole 0.05% oint-
ment twice daily with no local or systemic side effects
and with a much lower relapse rate.
Therefore the objective of the present work is to per-
form a further study to re-evaluate the efficacy and safety
of a higher concentration of podophyllin (10%) in com-
parison with clobetasole and Vaseline with all being used
on every other day based regimen.
2. Patients and Methods
This is therapeutic, comparative, single-blind, placebo-
controlled study was carried out at the Department of
Dermatology and Venereology, Baghdad Teaching Hos-
pital, during the period from July 2011 to October 2012.
The nature and target of this study were explained for
each patient. Formal consent was taken from each patient
before starting the therapy, after full explanation about
the nature of the disease, course, and the options of
treatment, follow up, prognosis, complications and the
need for pre and post treatment photographs. Also, the
ethical approval was given by the scientific committee of
the Scientific Council of Dermatology & Venereology-
Iraqi Board for Medical Specializations.
Inclusion criteria: Mild plaque- type psoriasis which
is defined as PASI score of less than 10.
Exclusion criteria: making use of history, physical
examination and investigations, the following population
were excluded: pregnant or lactating women, patients
younger than 18 years, those with hepatic, renal, haema-
tological or other systemic disorders, immunosuppres-
sion, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, poor pe-
ripheral circulation, patients with lesions on the follow-
ing sites: Scalp, face, acral parts, hands and feet, inter-
triginous and anogenital areas. Patients with pustular and
guttate psoriasis were also excluded.
The diagnosis was established on clinical basis, and
the patients were not taking any topical nor systemic
psoriasis treatment for at least 3 months prior to starting
the treatment. History was taken regarding: gender, age,
and age of onset, duration of disease and presence of
itching. Physical examination was done to assess the site,
surface area and severity of psoriasis using PASI score. A
total of 98 patients with mild plaque-type psoriasis were
evaluated but only 87 patients completed the study (both
the treatment and follow up period). The patients de-
faulted for many reasons mainly transport and security
reasons. They were divided into three groups according
to their treatments model:
Group A: Thirty patients treated with podophyllin 10%
ointment every other day. Podophyllin 10% ointment
was prepared by mixing 10 g of podophyllum resin
powder (purchased from Merck Company, Germany)
with up to 100 grams Vaseline kept in a plastic container
at room temperature in the hospital. Patients were in-
structed to apply a thin layer of podophyllin preparation
on the psoriatic plaque, avoiding the surrounding normal
skin, with the use of disposable nylon gloves and to wash
off the area with water and soap after 6 hours (Figure 1).
Group B: Thirty patients treated with clobetasole
propionate 0.05% ointment [manufactured by the State
Company for Drug Industries and Medical Appliances
Nineveh-Iraq (NDI) under licence of SDI Co.] in unla-
belled tube.
Group C: Twenty seven patients treated with Vaseline
only (manufactured by Anglo-Dutch Company Unilever)
kept in a plastic container at room temperature in the
hospital.
All patients in the three groups were treated on every
other day. Patients were assessed at 5 visits during the
treatment period: at week zero, week 2, week 4, week 6
and week 8 to record the clinical response, cure and any
local or systemic side effects. After the cessation of
treatment, all patients were followed up every 4 weeks
for another 8 weeks during which relapse and any local
or systemic side effects were recorded.
(a) (b)
Figure 1. Forty years old female patient treated with podo-
phyllin: (a) Before treatment; (b) After 5 weeks treatment.
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Podophyllin (10%) Ointment: A New Therapeutic Modality for Psoriasis 245
Patients were screened to record any systemic podo-
phyllin side effects by clinical assessment and by doing
the following investigations before, during and after
treatment: general urine examination, complete blood
picture, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, liver and renal
function tests, serum electrolytes, fasting blood sugar,
and serum amylase and serum lactate dehydrogenase.
2.1. Efficacy Evaluations
Pre, during and post treatment photographs were taken
using Sony-digital, high sensitivity ISO 1600, 10.1 mega
pixels, DSC-N2 optical steady shot camera, in the same
place with fixed illumination and distance.
Assessment of drug efficacy was based on the reduc-
tion of PASI score. Patients were considered as good
responders if the reduction in PASI score was 50% or
more [11], partial responders if the reduction in PASI
score was 25% - 49% and poor responders if the reduc-
tion in PASI score was <25% [12]. Complete clearance
was considered when there was a reduction in PASI
score of ≥90%. Relapses defined as loss of 50% of PASI
improvement from baseline in patients who achieved at
least 50% reduction in PASI score [13].
2.2. Statistical Analysis
SPSS v.18 (statistical package for social sciences version
18) used for data input and analysis. Continuous vari-
ables presented as mean ± SD (standard deviation) and
discrete variables presented as numbers and percentages.
Chi square test for independence is used to test the sig-
nificance of association between discrete variables. For
testing the significance in means between more than two
samples; ANOVA test & Kruskal Wallis test are used as
appropriate for independent samples and Friedman test
used for related samples. For testing the significance of
difference in means between two samples; Wilcoxon
rank test used to test the significance of difference in
means between tow related samples or in any place
where the normality of distribution in question. Turkey
HD test used to test the significance of difference be-
tween means of two independent samples as a comple-
mentary test after ANOVA test looking for the exact sig-
nificance of difference between two means. For testing
the significance of observed difference in means of two
normally distributed continuous variables; t test for two
independent samples was used. Findings with P value
less than 0.05 were considered significant.
3. Results
A total of 87patients with mild plaque-type psoriasis who
completed the study were evaluated during both the
treatment and follow up period. They were 60 (68.9%)
males and 27 (31.1%) females, with: male: female ratio
2.2:1. Their ages ranged from 18 - 62 years with a mean
± SD of 36.4 ± 10 years. The newly diagnosed cases
were 27 (31%) patients. The disease duration ranged
from 0.1 - 40 years with a mean ±SD of 7.8 ± 8.5 years
and their age at onset ranged from 5 - 55 years with a
mean ± SD of 28.5 ± 12.9 years. Itching was positive in
42 (67.7%) cases. The family history was positive in 35
(40.2%) cases.
Their baseline PASI score ranged from 1.6 - 9.6 with a
mean ± SD of 4.4 ± 5.85. There was no statistically sig-
nificant difference in the demographic features among
the three groups. The location of treated psoriatic plaques
in the three groups was shown in Table 1.
1. Group A: they were 21 (70%) males and 9 (30%)
females with a male to female ratio of 2.3:1, their ages
ranged from 18 - 62 years with a mean ± SD of 35 ± 12.6
years. The newly diagnosed cases were 10 (33.3%) pa-
tients. Their disease duration ranged from 0.3 - 31 years
with a mean ± SD of 7.5 ± 9.1 years and their age at on-
set ranged from 6 - 52 years with a mean ± SD of 27.4 ±
11.2 years. Itching was positive in 19 (63.3%) cases. The
family history was positive in 10 (33.3%) cases. Their
baseline PASI score ranged from 1.6 - 9.4 with a mean ±
SD of 5.1 ± 2.8 was reduced to a range of 0 - 7.1 with a
mean ± SD of 1.2 ± 0.9 after 8 weeks of treatment, this
reduction in PASI score was statistically highly signifi-
cant with P-value= <0.001.
2. Group B: they were 21 (70%) males and 9 (30%)
females with a male to female ratio of 2.3:1, their ages
ranged from 20 - 60 years with a mean ± SD of 37.2 ±
11.4 years. The newly diagnosed cases were 9 (30%)
patients. Their disease duration ranged from 0.1 - 40
years with a mean ± SD of 8.3 ± 8.8 years, their age at
onset ranged from 5 - 55 years with a mean ± SD of 28.8
± 13.9 years. Itching was positive in 18 (60%) cases. The
family history was positive in 13 (43.3%) patients. Their
baseline PASI score ranged from 1.7 - 9.6 with a mean ±
SD of 4.9 ± 2.7 was reduced to a range of 0 - 9.6 with a
mean ± SD of 2.5 ± 3 after 8 weeks of treatment, this
reduction in PASI score was statistically highly signifi-
Table 1. The location of treated psoriatic plaques.
Site Group A
N (%)
Group B
N (%)
Group C
N (%)
Total
N (%)
Arms 2 (6.6) 6 (20) 3 (11.11) 11 (12.64)
Forearms 16 (53.33)12 (40) 18 (66.66)46 (52.87)
Trunk 29 (96.66)27 (90) 26 (96.29)81 (93.1)
Buttock 4 (13.33) 3 (10) 3 (11.11) 10 (1.14)
Thighs 10 (33.33)9 (30) 12 (44.44)31 (35.63)
Legs 27 (90) 24 (80) 23 (85.18)74 (85.05)
N 30 30 27 87
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Podophyllin (10%) Ointment: A New Therapeutic Modality for Psoriasis
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246
cant with P-value= <0.001.
3. Group C: they were 18 (66.7%) males and 9 (33.3%)
females with a male to female ratio of 2:1, their ages
ranged from 20 - 61 years with a mean ± SD of 37 ± 12.1
years. The newly diagnosed cases were 8 (29.6%) pa-
tients. Their disease duration ranged from 0.2 - 30 years
with a mean ± SD of 7.5 ± 7.8 years, their age at onset
ranged from 6 - 55 years with a mean ± SD of 29.4 ±
13.9 years. Itching was positive in 9 (33.3%) cases. The
family history was positive in 12 (44.4%) cases. Their
baseline PASI score ranged from 2 - 9.6 with a mean ±
SD of 4.9 ± 2 was reduced to a range of 0.3 - 8.8 with a
mean ± SD of 3.5 ± 1.9 after 8 weeks of treatment, this
reduction in PASI score was statistically significant with
P-value= <0.001.
In each group the patients were subdivided into 3
groups according to their response to treatments as fol-
low (Tables 2 and 3): Group A, All patients, 30 (100%),
achieved good response. Group B, patients who achieved
good response were 21 (70%) patients, patients with par-
tial response were 6 (20%) patients and patients who
achieved poor response were 3 (10%) patients. Group C,
patients who achieved good response were 3 (11.2%)
patients, with partial response were 12 (44.4%) pa-
tients while those with poor response were 12 (44.4%)
patients.
At the end of 8 weeks of treatment, Group A achieved
a good response (≥50% PASI reduction) in all of cases
30 (100%) and the patients start to notice improvement
after 4 weeks of treatment (Table 4). On the other hand,
Group B achieved a good response in about 21 (70%) of
cases, but the onset of action seemed to be slow as the
improvement becomes clinically evident at 6 weeks of
treatment. This difference was statistically significant,
100% versus 70% (P-value < 0.004), Table 3, and both
of them achieved a statistically significantly higher per-
centage of patients with good response than Group C,
11.2%, P value = <0.001 (Tables 2 and 3).
The difference in the percentage of patients who
achieved complete clearance (PASI reduction ≥ 90%)
between Group A and Group B treated patients was sta-
tistically not significant, 16.7% and 20% respectively
(P-value = 1.000), Table 2, while no complete clearance
was recorded in Group C.
The mean PASI reduction (mean ± SD) at different
weeks of treatment for different groups (Table 4) was as
follow: Group A, the mean reduction in PASI score was
41.3 ± 23.1, 53.2 ± 22.4, 68.4 ± 14 and 77.4 ± 14.1 after
2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks of treatment respectively. Group B,
the mean reduction in PASI score was 32.2 ± 21.9, 40.8
± 24.9, 52.6 ± 25.4 and 60.4 ± 27.8 after 2, 4, 6 and 8
weeks of treatment respectively. Group C, the mean re-
duction in PASI score was 32.2 ± 26, 32.6 ± 19.7, 30.9 ±
19.8 and 28 ± 23.4 after 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks of treatment
respectively.
When the speed of recovery was compared between
Group A and Group B, the study showed no statistically
significant difference at 2 weeks of therapy (P-value =
0.123), but with much quicker action in Group A at 4, 6
and 8 weeks of treatment with P-values of 0.047, 0.004,
0.004 respectively (Table 4). However, the difference in
the mean PASI reduction between Group A (77.4 ± 14.1)
and group C (28 ± 23.4) after 8 weeks of treatment was
statistically significant with P-value = <0.001 (Table 4).
At the end of 8th week of therapy, Group A was found to
achieve much higher reduction in in PASI score (mean ±
SD, 77.4 ± 14.1) than Group B (60.4 ± 27.8) treated pa-
tients and this difference was statistically significant (P
value = 0.004) (Table 5) and both of them were with
statistically significantly higher PASI reduction (mean ±
SD) than patients with Group C, 77.4 ± 14.1 and 60.4 ±
27.8 versus 28.0 ± 23.4, P value = <0.001 (Table 4).
The relapse rate in patients with good response was as
follow:
Group A, six (20%) patients relapsed after 8 weeks of
stopping treatment. Group B, seven (33.3%) patients
relapsed during the first 4 weeks after cessation of treat-
ment and 7 (33.3%) patients relapsed after 8 weeks of
stopping treatment. The total relapse rate was found in 14
(66.6%) of cases.
Group C, three (100%) patients relapsed during the
first 4 weeks after cessation of treatment.
The total relapse rate during 8 weeks follow up was
much lower among Group A, 20% versus 66.6% in
Group B, which was statistically significant P-value=
.002. On the other hand Group C had a relapse rate of 0
Table 2. Response to total course of treatment according to type of treatment.
Response to Treatment
Treatment Category
<25% 25% - 49% 50% - 74% 75% - 89% ≥90%
Group A N (%) / / 4 (13.3) 21 (70) 5 (16.7)
Group B N (%) 3 (10) 6 (20) 10 (33.3) 5 (16.7) 6(20)
Group C N (%) 12 (44.4) 12 (44.4) / 3 (11.1) /
P value = <0.001

Podophyllin (10%) Ointment: A New Therapeutic Modality for Psoriasis 247
Table 3. Degree of response in different groups.
Group A Group B Group C
*Response
No. % No. % No. %
P-value
Good 30 100% 21 70% 3 11.2% <0.001
Partial / / 6 20% 12 44.4% <0.001
Poor / / 3 10% 12 44.4% 0.641
Total 30 100% 30 100% 27 100%
*Good response cases with PASI score reduction >50%. Partial response
cases with PASI score reduction 25% - 49%. Poor response cases with PASI
score reduction <25%.
Table 4. Reduction in PASI score (mean ± SD) at different
weeks for different groups.
Treatment
Category Reduction in PASI score (mean ± SD)
Total
n = 87 2 weeks 4 weeks 6 weeks 8 weeks
P-value
Group A
(n = 30) 41.3 ± 23.1 53.2 ± 22.4 68.4 ± 14 77.4 ± 14.1<0.001
Group B
(n = 30) 32.2 ± 21.9 40.8 ± 24.9 52.6 ± 25.4 60.4 ± 27.8<0.001
Group C
(n = 27) 32.2 ± 26 32.6 ± 19.7 30.9 ± 19.8 28.0 ± 23.40.500
P-value 0.238 0.003 <0.001 <0.001
100%.The difference in relapse rate between the three
modalities of treatments was statistically significant with
p-value < 0.001.
The following local side effects were recorded: three
(10%) patients developed erythema 3 (10%), burning 2
(6.7%), pain2 (6.7%) and blistering 2 (6.7%), where only
the latter side effect necessitate temporary discontinua-
tion of application for few days, and hypopigmentation1
(3.3%) in Group A. No side effects were reported in
Groups B or C with no statistically significant difference
among the three groups (P = 0.052).
Neither staining, unpleasant odour nor systemic side
effects were reported. No systemic side effects were re-
ported.
4. Discussion
Podophyllum resin contains several cytotoxic compounds
in unpredictable ratio, [14] at least 16 active physiologi-
cal compounds, including podophyllotoxin, picropodo-
phyllin, α and β pellatins, podophyllotoxone and 6-
methoxy podophyllotoxin, kampherol and quercetin. [3]
Of these podophyllotoxin is the major active constituent
that is a lipid soluble compound which easily crosses cell
membrane [15].
The current work showed that podophyllin 10% oint-
ment was more effective than clobetasole 0.05% oint-
ment on every other day use. All the results of the pre-
sent work were much better than the results of the pilot
study [10]. So this study highly encourages every other
day regimen probably to save time and money and insure
better patient compliance (Table 5).
The speculated mechanism of action of podophyllin in
psoriasis could include the antimitotic effect, arrest of
cell differentiation and blocking of oxidizing enzymes.
Of interest podophyllin ointment had been showed no
change in color, odors nor texture when it was kept in at
room temperature after 8 weeks of preparation and use.
This could probably be attributed to the occlusive prop-
erties of Vaseline providing beneficial expanded longer
shelf life to podophyllin.
In comparison with other studies using daivobet oint-
ment, podophyllin 10% ointment induced a higher per-
centage of good response (≥50% PASI reduction) 100%
than that of daivobet (74.4%) [16] and a higher percent-
age of patients with PASI reduction of ≥ 75 (87.6% vs.
19.7% in daivobet) [17]. Also, daivobet has problems of
burning, stinging and irritation in up to 20% of patients
[1,18] and seldom clears plaques of psoriasis [1,19] with
potential risk of hypercalcaemia [1].
Podophyllin and dithranol had some features in com-
mon as both are plant derived crude compounds, acting
through inhibiting cell proliferation and affecting oxidiz-
ing enzymes involved in mitochondrial function and cell
nutrition [4,20]. In a thrice weekly trial of short contact
dithranol treatment, the mean PASI reduction was 82.3%
which is very close to the present work results of 77.4%
with podophyllin. Although in that study 6 out of 8 pa-
tients achieved a clearance of 90% or more with dith-
ranol in comparison to 16.7% with podophyllin in the
present work, but the drawback was using only 8 patients
treated with dithranol [21]. In a previous Iraqi study,
dithranol on daily treatment, had resulted in a relapse of
29% at 12 weeks which was close to that of podophyllin
(20%) at 8 weeks follow up in the present study [22]. In
addition, staining of skin, clothes, hair and nails is com-
mon with dithranol (100%) and the relative impractical-
ity of dithranol had led to a decline in its use particularly
for outpatients [1].
Five percent liquor carbonis detergens (LCD) in an
emollient base resulted in a mean improvement of 48.7%
by 4 weeks of daily based treatment [23] versus 77.4%
mean PASI reduction by 8 weeks with alternate day po-
dophyllin in the present work. While podophyllin achi-
eved higher mean PASI reduction (77.4% vs. 66.6%)
than crude coal tar with a lower relapse rate 20% versus
61% [22]. Staining, folliculitis, unwelcome smell and
appearance are well known common side effects of tar
[2].
In comparison with 10% and 5% zinc sulphate cream,
podophyllin achieved a higher good response in 100% of
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Podophyllin (10%) Ointment: A New Therapeutic Modality for Psoriasis 248
Table 5. Results summary of the pilot and the present studies.
Treatment category Podophyllin 5%
(N = 21)
Podophyllin 10%
(N = 30)
Clobetasole twice daily
(N = 20)
Clobetasole every other day
(N = 30)
Good response N (%) 20 (95.3) 30 (100) 14 (70) 21 (70)
Complete clearance N (%) 2 (9.5) 5 (16.7) 13 (65) 6 (20)
PASI reduction mean ± SD at 8 weeks 66.3 ± 20.7 77.4 ± 14 68.1 ± 34.2 60.4 ± 27.8
Relapse N (%) 5 (25) 6 (20) 9 (70) 14 (66.6)
patients after 8 weeks treatment versus. 60% and 53.8%
after 12 weeks of treatment respectively with the onset of
action seemed to be quicker with podophyllin as with
zinc the patients started to notice improvement after 8
weeks of treatment with each concentration of cream
versus 4 weeks in podophyllin. The relapse rate in podo-
phyllin treated patients was much lower (20%) than that
of 10% and 5% zinc sulphate creams 77.8% and 85.7%
respectively. Also the side effects were much lower (10%)
vs. 30.76% and 40% respectively [24].
In comparison with tazarotene, 0.05% or 0.1% gel ap-
plied once daily for 3 months showed 50% or greater
improvement in 65% of patients [25], podophyllin was
better with good response achieved in 100% of patients.
In other study using tazarotene gel 0.05%, the percentage
of patients with PASI reduction of ≥75 after 6 weeks of
treatment was 45% [26] versus 87.6% after 8 weeks
treatment with podophyllin in the present study.
5. Conclusion
In conclusion, this study has confirmed that podophyllin
ointment is a new effective therapy for mild plaque-type
psoriasis, and is more effective than other therapies in-
cluding clobetasole with a lower relapse rate and without
side effects.
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