Master’s Thesis at Al-Nahrain College of Medicine Investigates the Efficacy of Para-Coumaric Acid in the Treatment of Psoriasis

On Wednesday, September 9, 2026, a master’s thesis defense was held at the College of Medicine, Al-Nahrain University, Department of Pharmacology, for master’s student Ahmed Mohammed Hussein, whose thesis was entitled:

“Effects of Topical Para-coumaric acid Alone and in Combination with Clobetasol in Imiquimod-Induced Psoriasis Model in Mice”

The study aimed to characterize the concentration-dependent effects of topical para-coumaric acid using a range of clinical, histopathological, vascular, and inflammatory parameters in a sustained imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like dermatitis model. It also evaluated a low-dose clobetasol treatment regimen containing para-coumaric acid and compared it with the standard dose of clobetasol.

All active treatments produced significant improvements in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) scores and Baker histopathological scores, along with reductions in total cutaneous vascularity and suppression of inflammatory cytokines, compared with the imiquimod-induced groups and vehicle-treated groups. Para-coumaric acid demonstrated clear dose-dependent efficacy.

The 3% para-coumaric acid concentration produced effects comparable to or greater than those of 0.05% clobetasol in reducing IL-23 cytokine levels and improving histopathological findings. The combination treatment produced the most pronounced reductions across all assessed parameters, suggesting an additive effect. Molecular docking analysis further revealed strong binding affinity of the para-coumaric acid–clobetasol combination toward the PDE4D enzyme.

Topical para-coumaric acid, particularly at a concentration of 3%, demonstrated potent anti-psoriatic activity comparable to clobetasol, indicating its potential as a promising natural therapeutic option. Its combination with clobetasol also provided superior efficacy, suggesting a potential steroid-sparing strategy for the treatment of psoriasis. Further clinical studies are required to validate these findings in humans.

Thesis Defense Committee

• Prof. Dr. Ahmed Rahma Abu Ragheef – Chair

• Asst. Prof. Dr. Mohammed Abdul-Muttalib – Member

• Asst. Prof. Dr. Nora Mustafa Kareem – Member

• Prof. Dr. Farah Rasool Jaafar – Member and Supervisor

The thesis was successfully approved with a grade of Excellent.

Media and Government Communication Division
College of Medicine – Al-Nahrain University