Verbascoside is a phenylethanoid glycoside found in several medicinal plants, including Verbascum species and Plantago species. There is some scientific evidence supporting its potential role in the management of psoriasis, primarily based on in vitro and animal studies. Verbascoside has demonstrated notable anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which are relevant to the pathophysiology of psoriasis, a chronic inflammatory skin disorder characterized by excessive keratinocyte proliferation and immune dysregulation.

Specifically, studies have shown that verbascoside can inhibit the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β, which are central to the inflammatory cascade in psoriasis. Additionally, verbascoside may modulate the activity of NF-κB, a transcription factor involved in the expression of numerous inflammatory genes. Some preclinical studies report that topical application of verbascoside-enriched extracts can reduce erythema, scaling, and epidermal hyperplasia in animal models of psoriasis-like skin inflammation.

However, there is a lack of robust clinical trials in humans directly evaluating the efficacy of verbascoside for psoriasis. Most available data come from cell-based and animal studies, and no major guidelines currently recommend its use. Thus, while there is a scientific rationale and preliminary evidence for its potential benefit, the overall strength of evidence is limited, and more research—especially in human subjects—is needed.