The effect of paeonol on motor deficits and depressive and anxiety-like behavior in cuprizone-induced model of multiple sclerosis

Background and Objective: Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) exhibit varying degrees of motor deficits, anxiety, and depression. Chronic oral cuprizone through evoking demyelination process is generally used to induce a model of MS to assess potential efficacy of promising therapeutics. Paeonol is a phenol compound with beneficial anti-inflammatory and protective effects. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of paeonol on motor deficits and depressive and anxiety-like behavior using open field, elevated plus maze, and tail suspension test in C57Bl/6 mice. Materials and Methods: Mice received oral cuprizone at a dose of 400 mg/kg for 6 weeks and paeonol was given orally at doses of 25 or 100 mg/kg/day from the second week for next five weeks. To assess motor function and depressive and anxiety-like behavior, open field task, tail suspension test (TST), and elevated-plus maze (EPM) test were used, respectively. Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and Tukey post-test with significance level 0.05. Results: Paeonol administration to cuprizone group at the higher dose of 100 mg/kg improved locomotor activity and motor coordination as was evident by higher line crossing and an increase in the spent time in the center. In addition, paeonol treatment of cuprizone group significantly reduced spent time in the open arms of elevated-plus maze and also decreased immobility time in tail suspension task. Conclusion: This study showed reversal effects of paeonol regarding motor deficits and depressive and anxiety-like behavior in cuprizone-induced model of MS.