Background and Aim: Regarding the importance of new treatments to control and treat multiple sclerosis (MS), in this study we investigated the role of Benzoaric acid (BA) on the neuro-inflammation and apoptosis processes in the cuprizone (cup)-induced animal model of MS.
Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 35 males C57BL/6 mice were divided into five groups. The study groups were included, control: received six weeks of normal powdered food beside intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of BA solvent (100 µL per day PBS) for the last two weeks, cup: received six weeks of powdered food contains 0.2% cup beside i.p. injection of BA solvent for the last two weeks and cup-treatment: received six weeks of powdered food contains 0.2% cup beside i.p. injection of 20, 40 and 80 mg/kg BA for the last two weeks. Eventually, the medial corpus callosum area of the animal’s brain was evaluated via western blot and Real-Time PCR methods.
Ethical Considerations: Ethical points were observed according to the declaration of Helsinki and relevant code of ethics, regarding minimizing harms during animal experimentation (UOZ-GR-9517-13).
Findings: Molecular studies have shown that BA-80 decreased mRNA (p <0.01) and protein expression of NF-KB and consequently increased I-KB/NF-KB ratio (p <0.05) and decreased inflammation in compare to cup group. Moreover, BA-80 decreased caspase-9 mRNA (p<0.01) and caspase-8 mRNA (p <0.05) and subsequently increased caspase-8/caspase-9 ratio (p<0.01) and decreased apoptosis in compare to cup group.
Conclusion: The dose of 80 mg/ml BA via decreasing cup-induced neuro-inflammation and neuro-apoptosis has protective effects in this model.
