Antipruritic armamentarium with short term nutritional support solution involving slymarin and curcumin for atopic dermatitis in dogs

Abstract

Well-known medicinal plants Curcuma longa (turmeric) and Slybium marianum (slymarin) have growing interest for its therapeutic anti-inflammatory and antipruritic actions. The present researcher group hypothesized that commercially available oral/topical solution involving C. Longa and Slybium marianum combination will significantly decrease the pruritus scores after short-term (1 week of twice-daily) oral treatment in dogs with atopic dermatitis (AD). Twenty-six dogs with AD, diagnosis based on alergen specific Ig E levels, CADESI-04 scores and clinical signs involving pruritus, previously not received any treatment. Evaluations included Owner Pruritus VAS score (OPVAS), Veterinarian Dermatitis VAS score (VDVAS) and in vitro allergy testing. The mean day 0 OPVAS were similar (p>0.05) between the Silifort paste treatment groups (STG) (range 2-10) and placebo control dogs (CG) (range 2-10), respectively. The mean OPVAS continued to gradually decrease over the remaining 6 days of study in TG (p 0.05) between the STG (range 2-10) and CG (range 2-10), respectively. At day 7, the mean VDVAS for STG had decreased to 1 cm and for the placebo CG to 5.2 cm (p<0.0001). The VDVAS in STG were significantly lower compared to STG on day 7 (p<0.0001). The present study supports a potential benefit of Silifort paste for short-term relieving itching sensation. This treatment modality might replace immunosuppressive applications, with its anti-inflammatory, anti-infectious and antioxidant formulation.