AUTHOR=Tang Lipeng , Li Tong , Zhang Bowen , Zhang Zihao , Sun Xiaoyi , Zhu Ying , Feng Bing , Su Zuqing , Yang Laijun , Li Hongxia , Liu Huazhen , Chen Yuchao , Dai Zhenhua , Zheng Xirun , Li Mingxian , Li Chutian , Zhao Jie , Qiu Xinmin , Ye Shuyan , Liu Han , Zheng Guangjuan , Li Ben , Lu Chuanjian TITLE=Punicalagin Alleviates Psoriasis by Inhibiting NF-κB-Mediated IL-1β Transcription and Caspase-1-Regulated IL-1β Secretion JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pharmacology VOLUME=Volume 13 - 2022 YEAR=2022 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2022.817526 DOI=10.3389/fphar.2022.817526 ISSN=1663-9812 ABSTRACT=Psoriasis is a chronic and inflammatory skin disorder characterized by inflammation and epidermal hyperplasia. Punicalagin (PUN) is a main active ingredient of pomegranate peel with multiple biological activities, such as antibacterial, antioxidant and anti-tumor effects. However, the potential effect of PUN on psoriasis remains unknown. Here we found that PUN effectively alleviates the severity of psoriasis-like symptoms in imiquimod (IMQ)-induced psoriatic mouse model. Mechanistically, PUN potently suppresses the aberrant upregulation of IL-1β and subsequent IL-1β-mediated inflammatory cascade in keratinocytes by inhibiting NF-κB activation and cleaved caspase-1 expression in vitro and in vivo. Taken together, our findings indicate that PUN can relieve psoriasis by repressing NF-κB-mediated IL-1β transcription and caspase-1-regulated IL-1β secretion, which provide evidence that PUN might represent a novel and promising candidate for the treatment of psoriasis.