Progress of Psoralea corylifolia injection in the treatment of vitiligo

Vitiligo is a common skin disease with acquired depigmentation, seriously impacting patients′ physical and mental health. With the acceleration of life rhythm and the increase in psychological stress, the incidence of vitiligo increases. Because of the complicated pathogenesis, the treatment of vitiligo is still one of the most difficult challenges in dermatology. At present, the therapeutic efficacy for vitiligo is limited although various treatment methods are available. Therefore, new therapeutic approaches still need to be explored. Psoralea corylifolia injection, a proprietary Chinese medicine, can stimulate the synthesis and transport of melanin, and promote the division and proliferation of surviving melanocytes in the epidermis and hair follicles. Hence, the Psoralea corylifolia injection-based combination therapy is expected to provide a new safe and effective treatment for vitiligo. In this paper, we review literature on Psoralea corylifolia injection for vitiligo in respect of the mechanisms, usage and adverse reactions.