Immunomodulatory effects of Silymarin in animal model of Multiple Sclerosis

Background and Aim : Multiple sclerosis, an autoimmune disease, in result of nerve cells demyelination in the brain and spinal cord causes nerve dysfunction. On the other hand, Silibinin, the major pharmacologically active compound of silymarin of the Silybum marianum fruit extract, have an anti-inflammatory agent that could be suppress the inflammatory response of immune system. Therefore, we hypothesized that silymarin could be effective in the MS therapy and we tested its immunomodulatory effects in experimental animal model.Methods : The study was performed on adult female Wistar rats (200-150 g). Multiple sclerosis disease was induced by intraperitoneal and intraperitoneal injection of poisonous toxin. In the pretreatment group, animals received intraperitoneally injection of silymarin (50 mg / kg) 17 days prior to intraspinal injection of venom (250 ng / 0.2cc / rat). In the treatment group, the animals were treated with silymarin (50 mg / kg) after 13 days of the intraperitoneally injection of toxin. The behavioral symptoms were scored on the basis of the paralysis of the tail and the limbs. At the end of the study, we evaluated inflammatory response and cytokine ( IL17, TNF-α, IL-1β) production in CSF, serum samples, brain and spinal cord by spectrophotometry.Results : The severity of the signs was significantly decreased in the pre-treatment and treatment group (from 27th to 30th) treated by 50 mg / kg Silymarin than the MS untreated group. Our results showed that the cumulative signs in treated and pretreated groups with 50 mg / kg silymarin were significantly lower than MS patient group. Our results showed that inflammatory cytokines in brain, serum samples, CSF and spinal cord were significantly different in pre-treatment and treatment groups than patient group.Conclusion : There is little information about the effects of silymarin on behavioral disorders in MS patients. As a result, this study can be a strong point in the treatment of MS disease. We concluded that Silymarin significantly reduced the inflammation signs in MS. Also, herbal medicine silymarin, as an alternative treatment for MS patients modulate the immune system.

Keywords:

Multiple Sclerosis , Silymarin , Animal