Healing Influence of Melilotus Officinalis Herbal Extract on Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis in C57BL/6 Mice

The present study was designed to primarily examine the therapeutic potential of the herbal extract of Melilotus Officinalis for the treatment of multiple sclerosis in the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model of the disease. The animal model was induced in C57BL/6 female mice, and then the herbal extract was intraperitoneally administered for a total of 21 days after the first day of post-immunization. The phenotypic signs, a gene expression profile of inflammatory cytokines, antioxidant state, and pathological hallmarks of the disease in the corpus callosum were evaluated. The prophylactic administration of Melilotus Officinalis attenuates the clinical signs of the disease. It significantly declined the gene expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines like IL-6, TNF-α, and IFN-γ. This herbal extract also surged the gene expression, as an anti-inflammatory cytokine. The gene expression of Glutathione peroxidase and Catalase (antioxidant enzymes) was meaningfully higher in the treatment group. Pathological evaluation of corpus callosum cross-sections by Luxol Fast Blue staining revealed preserved myelin sheath in the treated group compared to the EAE mice. The results of our assay confirmed that immunomodulatory and antioxidant features of the herbal extract of Melilotus Officinalis ameliorated the EAE severity. This study finding disclosed the therapeutic efficiency of this compound in MS treatment.