Background: Neurodegenerative diseases are among the most common inflammatory diseases that cause significant physical disabilities by disrupting the functioning of the nervous system. Fisetin, as a flavonoid, plays an important role in preventing nerve damage. In this study, the effects of fisetin were investigated on the serum levels of interleukin 2 and 10 and prevention of cuprizone-induced myelin destruction.
Methods: 20 C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to control, sham, cuprizone, fisetin, and cuprizone-fisetin groups. Cuprizone was used at a dose of 400 mg/kg daily to induce demyelination. In addition, fisetin was injected intra-peritoneally at a dose of 20 mg/kg in the treated groups. Finally, immunohistochemical staining was used to examine myelin and ELISA was used to assess serum levels of interleukin 2 and 10. Statistical analysis was performed using One Way ANOVA.
Findings The results showed that the mean serum level of interleukin 2 in the caprizone group was significantly increased compared to the other groups (P ≤0.01). Furthermore, the mean myelin density (P ≤0.001) and serum level of interleukin 10 in the fisetin group (P ≤0.01) and in the caprizone-fisetin group (P ≤0.05) were significantly increased compared to the caprizone group.
Discussion: Cuprizone, with its inflammatory effects, can cause the death of oligodendrocyte cells and the destruction of myelin tissue. On the other hand, fisetin, by exerting anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects, can prevent the death of myelin-forming cells and maintains myelin density by reducing the destructive effects of inflammation.