Protective effect of Crocin on Cuprizone-induced model of Multiple Sclerosis in Mice

Abstract

Crocin is the main bioactive components of the saffron with neuro generative and protective activity, however, its activity in neurodegenerative disease in not fully elicited. So, the aim of the current study was to determine effects of the crocin on reflexive motor behavior, depressive and serum antioxidant activities on cuprizone-induced (CPZ) model of multiple sclerosis (MS) mice. 40 male C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned into 4 groups. Mice in the control group were treated with normal diet. In group 2, CPZ-induced demyelination was done by chew palate containing 0.2% (w/w) CPZ for 5 weeks. In group 3, normal diet was provided and mice orally received crocin (100 mg/kg) 3 times per week for 5 weeks. In group 4, mice feed CPZ containing diet and orally received crocin (100 mg/kg) three times per for 5 weeks. At the end of the study, reflexive motor behavior and depressive tests were done. Also, serum and brain tissue antioxidant activity was determined. According to the data, crocin had positive effects on hind-limb foot angle, hind- and front-limb suspension, surface righting, grip strength and negative geotaxis while CPZ had adverse effect compare to control group (P < 0.05). Co-administration of the CPZ + crocin significantly decreased adverse effect of the CPZ on the reflexive motor behavior tests (P < 0.05). CPZ significantly increased immobility time in the forced swimming test (FST), tail suspension test (TST) and crocin diminished it (P < 0.05). Co-administration of the CPZ + crocin significantly decreased adverse effect of the CPZ on immobility time (P < 0.05). CPZ decreased number of cross in open field test (OFT) and spending time on rotarod and CPZ + crocin significantly lessened adverse effect of the CPZ (P < 0.05). CPZ significantly increased malondialdehyde (MDA) and decreased glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and total antioxidant status (TAS) and these effects reversed by crocin in brain tissue and serum (P < 0.05). Co-administration of the CPZ + crocin significantly improved adverse effect of the CPZ on serum and brain tissue antioxidants (P < 0.05). These results suggested crocin has protective effect against on CPZ-induced MS in mice.