Immunomodulatory and AntiInflammatory Effects of Scrophularia megalantha Ethanol Extract on an Experimental Model of Multiple Sclerosis

Background and objectives: Scrophularia megalantha is a native Iranian plant. In folk remedies, the species of the genus are used to treat stomach ulcers, goiter, eczema, cancer, psoriasis, and gall; however, there is not much research about S. megalantha. The current study aimed at evaluating the therapeutic effect of Scrophularia megalantha, a medicinal plant of Iran, on myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein 3555 (MOG)induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) as a model of multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods: The ethanol 80% extract of S. megalantha aerial parts was prepared by maceration method. The extract (100 mg/kg/day) was administered to C57BL/6 mice immunized with MOG (3555) for 7 days, 3 weeks after EAE induction. The mice brain was removed and HematoxylinEosin (H E) was used to stain the sections. Moreover, spleen mononuclear cells from extracttreated or nontreated of EAE model mice were stimulated with MOG peptide and then culture supernatants were evaluated for IFNɣ, IL17 and IL10 cytokines using EnzymeLinked Immuno Sorbent Assay (ELISA) kits. Results: Based on the obtained results, treatment with Scrophularia megalantha areal part extract significantly reduced inflammatory cells infiltration in the central nervous system (CNS) and also the disease severity in the experimental model of MS. Also, findings of the current study indicated that treatment with this medicinal plant in EAE mice model significantly decreased inflammatory cytokines including IFNɣ and IL17 and vice versa significantly increased IL10 as antiinflammatory cytokine compared with nontreated of EAE model mice group. Conclusion: Scrophularia megalantha attenuated EAE by suppressing IFNɣ and IL17 production and also increasing IL10 cytokine. These findings suggested that this medicinal plant has the antiinflammatory and immunomodulatory effects.