Enhancing effect of calaguala on the prevention of rejection on skin transplants in mice

Calaguala, an extract from the fern Polypodium decumanum, has been used to treat psoriasis and other immunologically related disorders. In order to elucidate whether an immunosuppressive mechanism could explain the clinical effect, Calaguala was studied in a skin model of allograft rejection in mice. Calaguala significantly prolonged the allograft survival compared with untreated transplanted mice. The results indicate that Calaguala exerts an immunosuppressive effect which could explain at least partly, the positive clinical results on psoriasis.